For the uninitiated, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is based on a series of humorous science fiction novels written by the late Douglas Adams. I am obviously a fan of science fiction but must start this review by admitting that I am a Hitchhiker virgin. I have read nary a word of Adams’ famed series. I hang my head in shame. Considering the fact that Douglas Adams was a writer for the Monty Python troupe makes it doubly shameful that I have never visited his universe. I admit this only for the sake of saying that I cannot compare the movie to the books. Despite not having read the novels I have been looking forward to this movie with great anticipation. Unfortunately in today’s cinematic world unbridled excitement often equals disappointment once the film begins to roll. I’m happy to say that attending last night’s opening was not a disappointment.
The opening scene of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is an important one. It is the barometer by which I personally judged this film. When the opening music had faded and I heard the last “so long and thanks for all the fish” I knew that I would like this movie. The humor is vaudevillian and Pythonesque and at the same time includes a line of dry humor that runs throughout the whole of the film. The thumbnail version of the plot is that the earth is about to be obliterated to make way for a galactic superhighway and our hero, Arthur Dent, is unsuspectingly wisked off to strange new worlds by an old friend who turns out to be from outer space. Bathrobe on and towel in hand Arthur’s adventure commences and continues until the dolphins come home.
The casting in this movie was terrific. Arthur Dent was played to stunned British perfection by Martin Freeman. The character of Dent was an enjoyable hero to connect with as he was truly an average everyman who could be heroic when he needed to be. Zooey Deschanel, a favorite since hearing her incredible singing voice in Elf, plays Trillian, our heroes’ “one that got away”. Zooey is great as a very real, down-to-earth heroine. Mos Def is also great as Arthur Dent’s friend and rescuer Ford Prefect. Sam Rockwell takes on the role of Zaphod Beeblebrox, President of the Galaxy to annoying, self-centered, and brain-dead perfection. Rounding out cast is a relatively short but important performance by Bill Nighy (Slartibartfast) and the the excellent voice acting of Alan Rickman as the chronically depressed robot, Marvin.
(inhabiting the body of Marvin is none other than Willow Ulfgood himself, Warwick Davis)
The special effects in this movie are terrific. The spaceship and planetary effects are obviously done with the very best of today’s technology and, in my opinion, are at their best near the end of the movie during the initial performance of Bill Nighy (no spoilers!!!). Where I think this movie shines is in the art department. The design of the ships and their interiors has a very 80’s feel to it which complements the time period in which Adam’s wrote the novels. (Hitchhiker was published in 1979). Adams’ novels are a spoof of the conventions of science fiction and I see this humor in the design, costume, and special effects choices that were made for this movie. In simple terms this movie looked like I thought it should look.
As I said in the beginning I was not disappointed with this movie. There were several laugh-out-loud moments and both myself and the audience responded in kind. The sublte, dry, and sometimes stupid humor was also very entertaining. I attended the movie with someone who had read the books and he was very pleased with what they were able to accomplish in a 2 hour movie. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is a movie that Douglas Adams was trying to have made for many years. Unfortunately Adams died tragically of a sudden heart attack in May of 2001 at the young age of 49. Douglas Adams was hailed as a both a brilliant novelist and a pioneer in the use of radio and the internet. He was developing the website h2g2 which the BBC has continued with since his death. The h2g2 website is “the unconventional Guide to Life, the Universe and Everything. It’s like an encyclopedia, only better because all the entries are written by people like you!” On this site they also “collect the best in factual writing on all manner of subjects, from comic books, films and pop music to historical figures, scientific discoveries and introductions to different religions”.
I’m looking forward to reading the novels of Douglas Adams to flesh out this universe that I thoroughly enjoyed being introduced to. I’m also looking forward to reading Don’t Panic, a biography of sorts by Neil Gaiman that not only speaks about Adams but also about how this world he created came into being. I hope Douglas Adams would be pleased with this rendering of his creation as I know that I was.
In closing I give this movie one enthusiastic thumb up:
and I say thank you, Douglas Adams.
( Douglas Adams 1952-2001)
Cool, can’t wait to see it. 🙂
You’ll love it, Rob! We went with John and his two boys, and we all had a great time.
I was telling John (Russell) about your website last night, Rob.
I think you’ll enjoy the movie as well.
This is why I haven’t seen many of the movies you talk about Carl…who could keep up with you?
Its funny cuz I don’t think I see very many movies (in the theatres anyway) at all…I guess I’m comparing to what it was like when Mary and I were dating and first married and we didn’t have a child, house payments, etc. so we went to alot of movies!
going to see it tonight—–eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! (er, that’s glee, if it doesn’t translate in print.
sorry you missed the fish on friday. never fear, there’s always fish to come.
i think i lost an end parenthesis there somewhere)
It was at the end of the long glee! Look forward to hearing your thoughts on it Jenn.
Looks like Hitchhiker’s had a good opening weekend according to boxofficemojo.com (thanks, Jeff). Hope it continues to do well. I really consider this the first of the movies that I’ve been really excited about this year and am glad that it didn’t disappoint.
Lovely review. I’m so glad you posted it; I was waiting to hear some feedback.
i LOVED it!.. it certainly didn’t seem like a 2hr movie.. i was dissapointed at the end, simply because it seemed too short!.. the only thing i would’ve changed was that some of the jokes seemed rushed thru & quiet.. i think some of my friends missed some of the jokes that i got simply because i was waiting for them.
That’s probably true Angela. I’ll be really interested to see how the movie improves after I read the books and will get more of the inside jokes, etc. Now that you mention it the movie did seem to go by fairly quickly and I would’ve been okay with the movie being longer.
Thanks Jay! 🙂
Good review. I hope to get a chance to see it soon. No problem on the boxofficemojo tip. I saw someone else mention it on a message board once. It’s an interesting site because you can also look up international box office numbers. It can be quite interesting seeing what films are doing well overseas and what aren’t. You’ll be surprised.
I also have all the books compiled into a collection but haven’t read any of them yet. You’re more than welcome to borrow it anytime you want. Just let me know when.
I might just take you up on the books sometime if I can’t find my old book sale copies in the basement!
I am truely astounded, Carl. I would have though these book were right up your alley. You should hang your head! 🙂
As for the movie, I was so giggly after seeing it, I had trouble breathing. I antisipated this movies to be really good and then tried not to antispate, because I knew they’d mess it up. But they didn’t! Unfortunately, Douglas Adams never got to see it, I think he would have been proud. The casting/acting was perfect – I esp. like Sam Rockwell as Zaphod and Alan Rickman as the voice of Marvin was perfect.
Thanks for reminding me that Douglas Adams wrote for Monty Python.
Believe me, these books are most assuredly up my alley, as are many other things that I have yet to read and I feel ashamed that not only haven’t I read Adams but haven’t read my favorite author’s book ABOUT Adams! My head is hanging…. I will remedy this situation soon, however.
speaking of reading.. i’ve started the stainless steel rat book.. lol.. so far i’m really liking it!
i’m reading another novel at the same time tho, so it might take me a while to get through it..
Only 2 at a time! Get with the program!!! I actually wish I hadn’t started that bad habit of reading multiple books. I never used to until about 5 years ago and now I’m out of control!
The SS-Rat books are fun. Harry Harrison spouts some interesting philosophies in them in regards to substance us and the afterlife, but I really enjoy them alot…fluff reading!
Hey Angela, for those who don’t go to your site (despite frequent encouragement!) you should post your HH review over here as well, I thought it was a good one.
okie dokie, thanks…
here’s my thoughts on Hitchhiker:
I have to admit that I have mixed feelings about The Hitchhiker movie. On one hand, it was very funny and very entertaining… but on the other, I kept expecting more and it seemed too short. The liberties they took with adding the romance between Arthur and Trillian didn’t bother me. In fact, I think it probably added a lot to the story. The Trillian character, in general, was a great asset that the book didn’t utilize much. My favorite line in the movie was when they were shooting each other with the point-of-view gun, and Trillian says, “It won’t work on me. I’m already a woman.†The addition of some other plot elements worked great as well, since the book itself wasn’t very complex or long.
The comedy was pretty much what I expected. The biggest laughs always involved Sam Rockwell as the President of the Galaxy. And they did a great job of incorporating his 2 heads and extra arm into the movie. And I was pleasantly surprised by how well all the characters were cast. My favorite cameo was of John Malkovich as Humma Kavula. He always plays a great villain. I wish his character could have gotten a little more screen time.
I definitely want to see it again in the theatres. I have a feeling this will be a movie that I’ll enjoy the more times I see it. There are a lot of great quotable one-liners.
Now, what about starting on “The Restaurant at the End of the Universe�!
Thanks Angela. As I said before, good thoughts. I’m afraid that without Adams here to push for it they may end up building a restaurant at the end of the universe before the sequel comes out! Hopefully the movie will do well enough to warrant a sequel.
Also as I said on your site, I am disappointed that the love interest isn’t really a part of the stories as the hopeless romantic in me prefers to have a good love story in any genre of movie or book. This won’t stop me from reading and enjoying these novels, however!
Wish I had 2 heads and an extra arm!!!!
speaking of, i love how the book explained why Zaphod got the extra head & arm.. and the whole memory wipe thing.. it was too rushed in the movie.