The movie version of The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy has finally hit the theaters after many years of waiting. I first heard about movie plans for the Guide over ten years ago, and it is good to see that they have finally delivered it to fans at long last. There are elements of the old mixed with the new. The cast is different and special effects technology has advanced such in the years between the original BBC broadcast and today, not to mention a much bigger budget, and results in a much different experience. If you are expecting the OLD HHG, you won’t get it here.
The film opens just as the original, with Arthur Dent trying to prevent his home from being demolished, and Ford Prefect comes along and takes him down to the pub, when the Vogons arrive in their construction fleet.
Fast forward to their being ejected into the vacuum of space to be picked up by Zaphod Beeblebrox and Trillian, and we’re off to a very different telling of the Hitch Hiker’s saga.
With the Vogons in hot pursuit of the Big Z, Zaphod begins his quest for Magrathea to find the Ultimate Question to the Ultimate Answer and looses his head enroute. At least one of them, that is.
Overall, the film is less British and more American than the BBC production, probably so as to appeal to a wider audience, and it has been reported to be a test bed for how well the new Doctor Who series may do in the U.S.
Good things about the new HHG: most of the actors do a good job, the makeup and costuming, especially the Vogon’s, who play a more significant role than in the BBC broadcast, is stupendous. Even the original Marvin puts in an appearance. Much of the new material and look worked well. The special effects were excellent. The ultimate weapon is a threat to all mankind (but, oddly enough, not womankind).
Not so good things: Allen Rickman as Marvin, the paranoid android, comes off being way too cheerful and happy. I kept thinking he sounded more like Marvin the Martian, than Marvin the Robot with real people personalities. And I like so much of Rickman’s work, however, he just didn’t seem to fit the role. Slartibartfast also seemed to be weak. My opinion. Feel free to disagree. Also, the film ends way too early in the story line, but the length is probably about right for movie theaters. a lot of emphasis on special effects at times detracted form the overall story.
Overall, a darn good film, and a must see in the theaters.
