Oh, My!

To Be Takei takes on the personality of its subject–optimistic and lighthearted. George Takei (named after the occupant of the British throne at the time of Takei’s birth) has enjoyed a life (so far) of zigzagging luck. As a California child in the early 1940’s, he was sent with his family to an internment camp in Arkansas, later relocated to a harsher camp in northern California when his father would not “confess” to any loyalty to the Japanese emperor. He pursued an acting career when most roles for Asian men were offensive stereotypes. (He took two such roles in Jerry Lewis movies, to his later regret.) But he also landed a progressive, sexy role on the three-season TV show Star Trek, which improbably made him a cultural icon years later. From adolescence (if not earlier) he recognized himself as gay–this in deeply homophobic times. To protect his career, he kept his orientation closeted until he came out in 2005, and that coming out gave him a second iconic status. He also found a life partner who didn’t seek the spotlight but gamely adapted to it when Takei became a lauded spokesman for gay (particularly, gay marriage) rights.

The documentary is as easy and heartwarming as you might expect. There is resentment–rightly so–for the Japanese-American internment, but no witches are hunted. The closest thing to a villain in this story is William Shatner, lead actor on Star Trek, who distances himself from Takei; but the film makes clear that even Shatner is beloved (if also a jerk)–he isn’t being a homophobe so much as he is just being Bill Shatner.

To Be Takei (reviews) (official site)
Directed and written by Jennifer M. Kroot
Running time: 93 minutes
DVD release date: January 6, 2015