Don't Panic

This line is from Douglas Adams' incredibly popular novel, and now big screen adaptation The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. On the morning mild mannered Arthur Dent (Martin Freeman-Shaun of the Dead) thinks his biggest problem is his house getting demolished while he still lives in it, his life takes a turn for the bizarre. When his friend Ford Prefect (Mos Def-The Woodsman) rescues Arthur mere seconds before a Vogon fleet destroys Earth, he discovers that Ford is a writer for the most famous book in the Universe, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy". In a series of events that one couldn't possibly make sound sensible here, Arthur embarks on the adventure of his life. Also starring Zooey Deschanel (Eulogy) as Trillian, and Sam Rockwell (Matchstick Men) as Zaphod Beeblebrox, and featuring the talents of many others including Anna Chancellor, Stephen Fry, Helen Mirren, Bill Nighy, John Malkovich, Alan Rickman and Warwick Davis.

As a fan of the novel (all 5 in fact), I was eagerly anticipating this film, and I was not disappointed. Right from the beginning with the incredibly quirky "So Long and Thanks For All The Fish" opening song, to the clever animations of the Guide and the imaginative Infinite Probability Drive, I was hooked. Even the additions to the story were interesting and enjoyable.

This is one of the rare cases where an adaptation was just as interesting as the book. It had it's differences, but they were all within the scope of the series, and fit well. If memory serves me correctly, I grinned throughout the film.

Freeman was incredibly well cast as Arthur Dent. He held his own, even when set against the flamboyant interpretation by Rockwell. Deschanel really fit my idea of Trillian, and I enjoyed her performance immensely. I particularly enjoyed the animated sequences for the Guide, laughing out loud with each explanation.

This film kept the spirit of the novel, and because of this, in my opinion, was a success. Of course, not everyone will get the witty sublties of British humor, but those are not the people this film is aimed at. A must see.

Rating: 4.5 (Out of 5)

Labels: Adventure, Comedy

posted by Lisa at 8:38 a.m. |