Don't Panic! (It's not that bad) – The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Written: Apr 29 '05
Product Rating:
Pros: They finally actually made this thing!
Cons: But it's not as good as I would have hoped.
The Bottom Line: If you're a fan of Adams' silly, campy science fiction, this is going on your 'must see' list... just don't let your expectations be too high or you'll be disappointed.
pearannoyed's Full Review: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Back in the '60s and '70s there was a series of travel guides available known as Hitchhiker's Guides. They were intended for students and others on a shoestring budget to help them find the best deals in the best places and maybe experience a little culture that they would have otherwise missed.
Then, in 1971 (if the lore is to be believed) a drunken Douglas Adams stumbled into a field in Innsbruck and lay down to stare at the night sky while on his own hitchhiking trip around Europe. The mind-bending result of this action and his subsequent thought process (or lack thereof) was the 1978 BBC radio play, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The story of the earthling Arthur Dent and his traveling companions on an hilarious journey through the far reaches of space, time and improbability later became a trilogy of books (in five parts), a terribly primitive BBC television series, a follow-up radio series, several computer games, and a web site. But its story has never been committed to the Silver Screen... until now.
Earth: Mostly Harmless
The story opens with Arthur Dent (Martin Freeman) awakening one Thursday morning to a construction crew attempting to knock his house down in order to make way for a new highway bypass. While Arthur tries to bring a halt to this disturbing event, his good friend Ford Prefect (Mos Def) collects him to escape the Earth, which is being destroyed to make way for a new hyperspace bypass.
The pair end up hitching a ride on a passing Vogon ship but are subsequently ejected into space (only after being subjected to the bilious effects of Vogon poetry). They are again rescued from certain doom by a passing ship powered by an infinite improbability drive. That ship is the Heart of Gold and is piloted by crewmembers Zaphod Beeblebrox (Sam Rockwell), the duly elected President of the Galaxy and thief of said ship; and Tricia McMillan or Trillian (Zooey Deschanel) as she's now called, a girl that Arthur once met at a party in Islington, but who ended up leaving the party with some guy who claimed to have a spaceship instead.
The four of them, along with a paranoid and chronically depressed android (who has a brain the size and shape of a planet) named Marvin (voiced by Alan Rickman) proceed to continue the quest that brought Zaphod this far in the first place. Zaphod, in what passes for his wisdom, realizes that his political fame will be fleeting and wants to make a lasting impression on the universe by discovering The Ultimate Question to the Meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything, the answer, of course, being '42'. In order to find the question, they need to find the fabled planet of Magrathea, but are temporarily delayed by some unfinished business that Zaphod has with his political rival, Humma Kavula (John Malkovich).
So will they ever discover the question? Can Marvin shake his blues? Will Arthur ever figure out what Trillian sees in that buffoon, Beeblebrox? For those answers, you will have to see the movie yourself.
Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster
Fans of the series have long wished for a film version of this popular story. In truth, however, it's probably just as well that it was delayed until technology caught up to the demands of the narrative. If you are hoping for a Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster (the effects of which are like having your brain smashed out with a slice of lemon wrapped around a large gold brick), then a simple glass of lemonade just won't do.
When the BBC first attempted to convert Adams' tales to a video format, the results were less than ideal. The Hitchhiker's television series is widely regarded as being only slightly less awful than Vogon poetry. By contrast, this movie is visually stunning and chock-full of impressive visual effects – but only by contrast. The effects were OK, but seemed a bit retro by comparison with other recent space operas. The various creatures (like the Vogons) were created by Jim Henson's Creature Shop, and accordingly look a little too much like something off The Muppet Show. And Marvin, though I thoroughly enjoyed Rickman's performance, was less than impressive.
It should also be noted that some who are uninitiated in the complexities of Adams' original narratives may find parts of the story hard to follow; but some who have been long-time fans of the Guide may have trouble as well. In true Douglas Adams style, the story was almost completely reworked for this telling, just as it was for every prior iteration. That's part of what's fun about Hitchhiker's, but it also means that some favorite lines from the books or radio series are either changed or missing completely.
I did find the majority of the performances to be pretty good. Arthur was exactly as I expected; and unlike some, I found both Ford and Zaphod to be acceptable versions of themselves. I was, however, quite put off by the simpering, lonely, un-spunky, boring version of Trillian that was perpetrated in this film. She seemed more a home-sick, love-forlorn ... girl ... than the energetic, intelligent, self-sufficient woman that I always pictured her as.
I never could get the hang of Thursdays
In general, I found this movie to be worth the matinee price. I do, however, admit great relief that I didn't spend the full fare of $8 or $10 that some theatres charge these days. By the way, one additional disappointment with the film is that it's official opening in the U.S. was Friday, April 29th. The British release more appropriately opened a day earlier, Thursday, but I suppose you can't always get what you want. This is an entertaining if somewhat flawed version of this classic gem of Science Fantasy. You should see it... just don't forget your towel.
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