Film Review: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Based on a Novel by Douglas Adams

Review by Thumper: Thumps from 1 to 5: Thump of 4

“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” is a film based on a novel written by Douglas Adams in 1979. Fortunately, Douglas Adams started, but after his death in 2001, Garth Jennings and Karey Kirkpatrick collaborated in completing the screenplay for the film released in 2005. This film is in honor of Douglas Adams. The film is a combination of “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride” and “Laugh-In” to make a memorable and enlightening science fiction comedy.

Although the movie is highly entertaining, recommended reading of the book “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” a mere two hundred pages of easy reading, prior to viewing the film is suggested in order to familiarize yourself with the characters. Familiarization with the characters will be beneficial for your viewing because the movie pace is quick and bizarre. It may be hard to digest unless the viewer has been previously disposed to such an outlandish plot and characters. However, the plot of the film adaptation of Hitchhiker's Guide differs from the book. The romantic triangle between Arthur, Zaphod, and Trillian is more prominent in the film; and visits to Vogsphere, the home world of the Vogons in the book, were already abandoned, and Viltvodle VI is inserted. Both the film and book ends with the characters en route to the Restaurant at the End of the Universe, the sequel.

The film begins with a narrative that the dolphins, the second most-intelligent creatures on earth, has attempted to warn mankind about the planet's impending destruction, but humans had interpreted the dolphins' communications as tricks. The dolphins considered their mission a failure and left the planet, leaving their message as "So long, and thanks for all the fish."

The film follows an earthling Arthur Dent, played by Martin Freeman. His best friend, an alien from Betelgeuse who is editing the Guide, Ford Prefect, played by Mos Def. Ford explains to Arthur in a pub that in ten minutes the earth will be demolished. They hitch a ride on a Vogon ship. As punishment, they must listen to Vogon poetry. They are thrown out of the air lock, and picked up by the starship “Heart of Gold.” On board the starship, there is Ford’s “semi-half brother, Zaphod Beeblebrox, played by Sam Rockwell. Zaphod is the President of the galaxy who swiped the starship. Accompanying Zahod is an earthwomen Tricia McMillan, played by Zooey Deschanel. There is an unforgettable performance by Marvin the Paranoid Android, voiced by Alan Rickman, and played by Warwick Davis. Zaphod must visit Humma Kavula, played by John Malkovich, his opponent in the election. Zaphod’s campaign is described as "slanderous 'don't vote for stupid' campaign.”

The movie appears to be a reenactment of a European trip on $10 per day in 1993 each spaceship representing a different youth hostel. The towel is an important necessity both in the movie and at youth hostel for there are none, and everyone needs a towel. The intergalactic excursions represent traversing the countries. Traversing the continent and knowing what the foreigners are saying is a harrowing experience. However, the most important thing to keep in mind, Don’t Panic!

Review by Thumper: Thumps from 1 to 5: Thump of 4