Documentaries, as interesting as some of them are, can occasionally feel like a dime a dozen, especially these days. Every possible niche interest, obscure event, or forgotten individual has a chance at either ending up the subject of a filmmaker's passion project, or just the next in a long line of relatively interchangeable Netflix films. There's a lot of nonfiction content out there, and it can be hard to decide what you should spend your time watching. I suggest we go back a few decades and experience a documentary from 1997 that stands out not for its incredible filmmaking, but for the subject matter and, importantly, how it's treated.

Director Roger Nygard wisely chooses actress Denise Crosby (Natasha Yar in Star Trek: The Next Generation) to guide us through the world of Star Trek fandom, giving interviewees and viewers a friendly, familiar face. The film visits fan conventions, peeks inside the homes and workplaces of committed collectors, and features bits and pieces of interviews with stars like Leonard Nimoy, Nichelle Nichols, and Brent Spiner. Common debates - Who's your favorite captain? Do you call yourself a 'Trekkie' or a 'Trekker'? - are discussed. One of the most fascinating elements of this look at the Trek faithful is the fan-generated content touched on at several points in the film. Folks have written their own screenplays, sewn their own uniforms, created CGI sequences, and generated loads of paintings and drawings revolving around Gene Roddenberry's creations.

That the film showcases these fans and their frequently obsessive interests without ceaselessly mocking them is the real achievement. There's a good chance you will find it hilarious, but it's also clear that there's plenty of affection to go around. Several interviewees give thoughtful answers about what it is they find so compelling about the world of Star Trek, and the famous faces that pop up here and there seem mostly enamored with all of the love directed their way. Nygard presents 'Trekkies' as they are and lets us hear what they have to say, managing to be both frequently funny and oddly inspiring.