The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

This past weekend I had intended to go see The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus.  Sadly, with it's oddly limited release, there was only one theatre playing it in the area, and the showtimes conflicted with other plans of the day so that will have to wait until another time.  Instead, we turned to an old favorite, the film adaptation of Douglas Adams' treasured classic, The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

This is probably the fourth time I've seen this movie which was a good thing since we didn't start it until sometime early morning and had decided to make it a drinking game on top of that - the catalyst being every time the narrator spoke.  This worked out a little too well and I stopped in the interest of keeping awake for the duration of the film.

Hitchiker's Guide, like probably everything, is not as good as the book.  The late Adams did have a hand in the screenplay, however, and this is evident in how true to the spirit and style of the distinctly British and hilariously funny five book trilogy.

The movie stars Martin Freeman (Shaun of the Dead) as the bumbling Arthur Dent, Zooey Deschanel (again) as Trillian, and Mos Def (another rapper who likes to act) as Ford Prefect.  The allstar cast is rounded out with Sam Rockwell, Bill Nighy - not to be confused with Bill Nye, Alan Rickman, John Malkovich, Bill Bailey - again not to be confused with Ben Bailey of Cash Cab infamy - and Warwick Davis.

More or less, Hitchiker's Guide is a satirical adventure set in outerspace after the Earth is destroyed to make room for an intergalactic bypass.  As a huge fan of the novels, I watched this in theatre's with high anticipation as well as trepidation.  While not perfect, it is nearly so.  The casting, too, is near perfect.  Deschanel here is the weakest link.  I usually like her, but in this role she was just annoying.  Freeman, though, was a great Arthur, and I agree with those who say Del Torro and Jackson would be wise to consider him for the role of the great Bilbo Baggins.

The story is a bit convoluted, but only in the most intentional of ways.  It flies across the galaxy at infinitely improbably speeds right along with our heroes.  Adam's flavour of humour is spot on and it is impossible to not laugh at least every few minutes.  In some ways this story has been updated for its 2005 audience as Rockwell seems to be channeling George W. with his portrayal of President of the Galaxy Zaphod Beeblebrox.

Though there was a scene near the end that I think the book's version handled much better in a more understated way, it did leave me - and probably everyone else - wishing I could get my hands on a point of view gun.

All in all this was A) hilarious, B) true to the spirit of the books, and C) worth watching if only for the whale and bowl of petunias.

***** (5/5 stars)