Leonard Rosenman

The Voyage Home is an unusual Star Trek movie in many ways, and that includes its choice of music.

The score was composed by Leonard Rosenman. A legend in his own right, Rosenman started his movie career in 1955 with two James Dean classics: East of Eden and Rebel Without a Cause. In the '70s, he dipped his toes in science fiction with several entries in the Planet of the Apes series. That's some serious cred. By the time he retired, Rosenman had composed more than 130 film scores.

Like the film itself, Rosenman's score defies Star Trek conventions. True, there are times when it's the same old epic Star Trek music. The main theme of the series pops up here and there, and the probe's leitmotif is appropriately ominous.

But then there's "Market Street," an upbeat '80s number that's unlike anything we've heard in the series before. There's even a sax breakdown. It's more Footloose than The Wrath of Khan. And don't even get us started on "The Hospital Chase."

Of course, this is a way for the filmmakers to emphasize the era in which our heroes find themselves. What better way to make it feel like the '80s than by playing some '80s music? On another level, however, this lighthearted musical accompaniment befits the humorous tone of the movie as a whole. After two mega-serious space operas, the series is simply looking for some good vibes.