CORPORATE LINE: Don’t Panic . . . Stick out your thumb to join the most ordinary man in the world on an extraordinary adventure across the universe in the hilarious comedy, “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” Earthman Arthur Dent is having a very bad day. His house is about to be bulldozed, he discovers that his best friend is an alien and to top things off, Planet Earth is about to be demolished to make way for a hyperspace bypass. Arthur’s only chance for survival: hitch a ride on a passing spacecraft. For the novice space traveler, the greatest adventure in the universe begins when the world ends. Arthur sets out on a journey in which he finds that nothing is as it seems: he learns that a towel is just the most useful thing in the universe, finds the meaning of life, and discovers that everything he needs to know can be found in one book: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
THE GOOD: As Ford, played well by Mos Def, attempts to save his friend Arthur Dent (Martin Freeman) and the adventure is on. The adventure is truly the main reason to watch.
There is plenty of cheeky humor to match up well with the special effects. From the beginning where we are serenaded by dolphins its obvious this isn’t your standard fare. Anyone who loved Monty Python will see all the same cheeky humor alive and well in Hitchhiker’s Guide.
Sam Rockwell’s performance as Beeblebrox the president of the Universe is hilarious. He is so idiotic that you can’t help but to love to hate him. You’d think that Ben Stiller’s Zoolander character was made after this wacko. Marvin the depressed robot steals every scene.
THE BAD: It’s important that Hitchhiker’s Guide isn’t too wrapped up in the special effects. Certainly they are important however they aren’t used as a crutch. We don’t learn too much about our characters—its mostly superficial in this quest. Little is told about Arthur Dent. We know so little that it takes until nearly the end to even care if he lives or dies. Much of the same can be said about the other characters. It seems that someone said “make the movie two hours” and they did it while sacrificing depth. In all honesty Hitchhiker’s Guide could have been longer, deeper, and more detailed. Unfortunately its very obvious the movie was made for the masses and not those of us who would have liked a great cheeky inside joke.
FRANKLY: The answer to the ultimate question is: Yes! The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy is great!
+ Charlie Craine
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