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By Polly Conway
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To Be Takei
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What's the Story?
TO BE TAKEI chronicles the life of eminently likable actor and activist George Takei (Tak-AY, not Tak-EYE, as he'll be the first to tell you). Best known for his role as Sulu on the original Star Trek TV show, the baritone-voiced Takei's popularity has only grown since he came out as a gay man in 2005, at age 68. He's become a bit of an Internet darling, spreading his trademark wit and zest for life on his Facebook page, which is followed by 7 million people and counting. Director Jennifer M. Kroot shares Takei's history in detail -- from his early days spent in a Japanese internment camp during WWII to his theatrical training and subsequent acting career to his development into a vocal activist for both the Asian-American and LGBTQ communities -- while interlacing it with present-day footage of Takei's life with his longtime husband and partner, Brad. Featuring interviews with lasting Star Trek friends like Leonard Nimoy and Nichelle Nichols, Takei's "enemy" William Shatner, politicians, and lots of Hollywood celebs, the film depicts a uniquely American journey that's certainly not over yet.
Is It Any Good?
Takei is one of a kind. A self-described optimist ("I don't believe in negativity"), he's spent a lifetime working tirelessly for civil rights while maintaining a reputation as Star Trek's resident goofball and the Internet's kooky uncle. Because it has so much ground to cover, To Be Takei meanders a bit as it jumps from Takei speaking about LGBTQ rights on Fox News to him wielding a fencing foil on a particularly wild Star Trek episode to black-and-white photos of his family in an Arkansas internment camp. But that can't be helped; Takei has lived such a bold, varied life that it's hard to pack it all in to a tight 90 minutes.
Trekkers will no doubt enjoy the film, and they'll end up learning a surprising amount about both America's dark history during WWII and its complicated present grappling with racial and LGBTQ equality. And there are definitely some choice Trek goodies to be found (watching Takei bust Shatner's chops at a comedy roast is a delight). Present-day scenes are decidedly unglamorous, depicting the relatively quiet life of a middle-aged couple -- small moments like sharing a bag of chips in the car, taking daily walks, and gentle bickering relay their two-plus decades together. Since much of the film's conflict plays out in the past, the current scenes can feel a bit boring, but a few stand out, like George and Brad's no-nonsense approach to a Star Trek autograph signing. A mix of Hollywood biopic, history lesson, and reality show, To Be Takei offers a glimpse of what it's really like to go boldly ... where no one has gone before. Oh, myyyyy!
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about minorities' experience in Hollywood. Have things changed much since Takei broke into TV and film in the '60s?
Takei knew what he wanted from life at a very young age and overcame a number of obstacles to become a successful actor. What qualities does he have that are admirable?
Talk to your kids about discrimination. The film's title comes from a campaign Takei created after a Tennessee school threatened to ban the word "gay" in 2011 -- Takei encouraged people to simply replace "gay" with "Takei," coining the catchphrase "It's OK...to be Takei!" Do you think banning a word helps solve a problem? Is it appropriate to use humor to challenge serious issues?
Movie Details
- In theaters: August 22, 2014
- On DVD or streaming: October 7, 2014
- Cast: George Takei , Leonard Nimoy , William Shatner
- Director: Jennifer M. Kroot
- Inclusion Information: Gay actors, Asian actors
- Studios: Dodgeville Films , Rainbow Shooting Star Pictures
- Genre: Documentary
- Topics: Space and Aliens
- Run time: 93 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: October 8, 2022
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