In their first solo feature, the cast of _Star Trek: The Next Generation_ reconvenes to follow the Borg through a temporal vortex. Popping out in the mid-21st century, the cybernetic bad guys plan to stunt (and eventually assimilate) the Earth’s population by nixing its fabled first warp-powered flight and ensuing contact with extraterrestrial life. This puts the Enterprise b-team in close proximity to Zefram Cochrane, a revered historical figure in their time, who bristles at the prospect of becoming a legend. Elsewhere, Data is tempted by the prospect of becoming more tangibly human and Picard struggles to address his personal connection to the enemy.

It may have been too soon for _Star Trek_ to play the time travel card again, ten years after _The Voyage Home_. While _First Contact_’s plot is distinct enough, it often relies on the same vein of comic incongruity for relief. Modern engineer talks shop, Starfleet graduates share a knowing smile - that sort of thing. We’ve already been there and done that, so much of the Earthbound humor doesn’t connect. Picard’s push for vengeance, and its noted similarity to Captain Ahab, provides the more interesting developments, anyway. Even if they are tempered by the nonsensical introduction of a sexy female mother cyborg, a mess of curves and cords who does her best to seduce man and synthetic alike. I preferred the Borg as a mindless collective, dedicated to overwhelming the galaxy through cold logic and sheer numbers alone.

_First Contact_’s mood represents a welcome shift from the stale, serious tone of preceding films. This chapter is more action oriented, but also softer, with a recognizable admiration for the TV series. In fact, it could easily pass as a big-budget, multi-part episode of either _TNG_ or _TOS_. And, while that’s a strength in terms of tone, it also applies in less favorable respects. The story assumes prior knowledge of the cast (there’s no reason to care about Riker, Crusher and Geordi otherwise), its acting is generally a step below what we’d expect from a big studio feature, the sets look cheap and the special effects haven’t aged well at all.

Still an enjoyable light sci-fi adventure, with spirit and charm, but not quite the level-up that one might expect from a popular show turned film franchise.