 The
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Starring:
Sam Rockwell, Zooey Deshanel, John Malkovich, Martin Freeman and the voice of
Alan Rickman, narrated by Stephen Fry
Directed by: Garth Jennings
Based
on Douglas Adams' book, screen play by Adams with Karey Kirkpatrick
Buy
it
Film
Review: (DVD Review Below) Bluntly
speaking? The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a mind-blowing visual
and mental extravaganza that leaves you in utter awe. The exquisite language styling
Douglas Adams' fans found incredibly edible within his novels, is also present
in his script. And, the numerous talents commingling within this film have made
H2G2 positively the most exciting and original Sci-fi film since Star Wars
first dazzled our galaxy searching mind's eye. Story
goes…Arthur Dent (Martin Freeman) is having a bad day. His house is about
to be demolished…but it's really going to be down hill from there. His close
friend, Ford (Mos Def), comes over shimming between the bulldozers and invites
Arthur to join him for a quick chat at the pub.
Arthur figuring his day cant possibly get any worse, follows. Ford tells him,
and anyone who'll listen, the world, Earth, is to be demolished - well, in about
twelve minutes. But
these are not the ill-informed rantings of an over Guiness'd bloke, it's an alien's
inner-knowledge of the truth…as Arthur's about to learn.
Before you
can say, "Hey where have all the dolphins gone to?" Ford grabs
Arthur and hitches a galactic ride aboard a - suddenly there- battalion of bureaucratic
spaceships…as Earth says ciao to its planetary friends.
And off we
go. First
up are the Vogons. A group of bad poetry spewing DMV-like galaxy employees. They're
not evil per say - just terribly by-the-book and in perpetually terrible moods.
And they're none too keen on hitchhikers of any sort boarding their vessel without
the proper forms and such to do so. After
an unlikely, numerically implausible escape, the two catch a ride with the President
of the Galaxy, Zaphod Beeblebrox (Sam Rockwell). Zap's an egotistical halfwit
political puppet with a Swedish glam-rock hairdo, and Ziggy Stardust wardrobe,
sporting an almost Elvis " The-Las-Vegas-Years" demeanor, with a peppered
pinch of George W. meets Beetljuice - shudder. Zaphod's apparently kidnapped
himself in the greatest spaceship ever designed. Also aboard the runaway vessel
are the scientist/adventurer Trillion (Zooey Deshanel) an Earth gal, and Marvin
a morbidly depressed robot (voiced by Alan Rickman). Arthur,
who's still trying to figure out what exactly is going on here, must now have
to help Zaphod and Trillion find the meaning of life - kinda. And
for the next few days (and our next couple of hours), the light fantastic shall
not just be tripped but skipped through with a jig!
The casting of this
remarkable film is impeccable. Fans of Douglas Adams' book will be giddy with
delight as plenty of important "Guide" factoids and idiosyncrasies are
gloriously brought to life. The flow is true to the book - if not precise. Arthur,
aka Martin Freeman, is preciously common, and Ford, aka Mos Def, is just kinetic
enough. Trillion, aka Zooey Deshanel is delightful - and perhaps a different look
than readers of the books expect. The smarmy religious cult leader, Humma Kavula
(an original character created by Adams for the film) is purrfectly skin-crawl
creepy in the hands of his actor counter part John Malkovich. But it is Zaphod
Beeblebrox, as "created" by Sam Rockwell that truly steals the human
talent show. Watch for cameos and little Adams odes throughout for extra viewing
glee… The
production design, lead by Joel Collins, is beautiful, the multimedia collaborations
mind boggling. The design of the Vogons by Jim Henson Studios is perfectly putrid,
and almost pre-Dickensian parliament, which makes sense as they were born of Adams'
description and 18th Century political cartoonist James Gillray. The details and
care taken in every milli-inch of this celluloid canvas absolutely shine with
the same originality Adams intended. H2G2 is a must see even for the non-informed
"Hitchhiker" pursuer. Hitchhike to get to the multiplex if you have
to- because the film is a cinematic event. Enjoy Snack
recommendation: Babblefish kebabs and Earl Grey tea.
DVD
Review:
Okay, basically five people (outside of England) saw
this film. It's very British - and very funny. If you're not of the snort-sort
when you watch Blackadder, don't know who say actor Hugh Laurie really
is, or thinks "a Python" is in reference to a large snake - this may
not be the film for you. It's OUT there in dry-British humour land. It
stays true(ish) to the books (film is a different medium after all), and the DVD
extras are fun; the obligatory behind-the-scenes, and a sing-a-long with the wacky
dolphins, even the actual navigation is refreshingly drawn. There's a bizarre
Marvin the Depressed Robot Hangman Game - that doesn't so much reward you if -
when - you finally get a word right - it just announces you won. After
12 hours of "play again" I wanted an extravaganza announcing I'd managed
to complete a bloody game (she said wiping the sweat from her brow...) BUT, as
with any film (really for the in-the-know-of-the-subject) like this wildly original
work - it's the film itself that one covets...not the clever added bitsthat hope
to help sell the piece.Buy
it
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