Watch Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

In 1986, the Star Trek franchise released its fourth movie titled The Voyage Home, an adventure in which the beloved crew of the USS Enterprise time-travels to 1980s San Francisco to save Earth's future. The movie, directed by Leonard Nimoy and featuring William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and DeForest Kelley reprising their roles as Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, and Dr. McCoy, respectively, begins with the aftermath of the previous movie, The Search for Spock. The crew is now on their hijacked Klingon Bird of Prey, trying to return to Earth before the destructive force of a massive alien spaceship wreaks havoc on the planet. However, the Klingon ship's dilithium crystals are now drained, leaving them stranded in space.

In a desperate move, Kirk suggests they travel back in time to retrieve humpback whales, whose extinct status in the future proves crucial for Earth's survival. They reach 1980s San Francisco, where they encounter difficulties in trying to find whales and their fellow crew member Pavel Chekov, who was injured and wandering around the city. They eventually locate two whales held in captivity in a facility, intending to release them into the ocean. However, they face numerous obstacles along the way, including hiding from authorities and the standoffish marine biologist Dr. Gillian Taylor, played by Catherine Hicks, who becomes intrigued by them.

Throughout the movie, the audience gets to see the crew in a new light as they adapt to new environments and challenges. Their banter and camaraderie are as charming as ever, with the dynamic between the stoic Spock and the passionate McCoy providing many memorable moments. The writing is full of humor, with Kirk trying to acclimate to the slang of the '80s and Spock struggling with human emotions.

The themes of environmentalism and conservation play prominent roles in the story, as the audience witnesses the state of the whales in the present day and hears Taylor's impassioned monologues about their disappearance. The film manages to address these issues without feeling forced or preachy, making it an effective approach to spreading the message to the masses.

The special effects and production design are impressive for the time, with the Bird of Prey's futuristic technology and the glimpses of 23rd-century San Francisco blending seamlessly with the 1980s setting. The use of practical effects and animatronics in creating the whales adds to their realism and charm.

The movie's soundtrack is also notable, featuring upbeat, jazzy themes composed by Leonard Rosenman that add to the film's lighthearted tone. The main theme, titled "I Hate You," is a standout, with a recurring motif that resembles humpback whale song.

Overall, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home is a fun adventure that showcases the strengths of the Enterprise crew and delivers a powerful message about the environment. It is a testament to the enduring popularity of the Star Trek franchise, beloved by fans and casual viewers alike.

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home is a 1986 science fiction movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 2 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 71.