Whilst I would credit the original Star Wars trilogy as being the first science-fiction media I consumed, I think I would credit Douglas Adams’ 1979 novel The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (based on his 1978 BBC radio show of the same name), as being the first sci-fi world I truly fell in love with and went on to inspire much of what I love about science-fiction from then on. I read the book when I was around seven or eight years old, along with the first three sequels; The Restaurant At the End of the Universe; Life, the Universe, and Everything; and So Long, and Thanks For All the Fish.
At the time a lot of the humour went over my head but the world was so peculiar and yet so relatable that I was completely captivated by Arthur Dent’s travels throughout the universe.
My local cinema wasn’t showing the film adaptation when it released, so I picked the DVD up as soon as I could, and I immediately fell in love with the books I adored now having this visual companion. Eager for adaptations of the other books, I waited patiently, followed what little news there was, and here I am the best part of two decades later still waiting. I don’t think a sequel ever got officially cancelled, and I’m not really sure why it never got made, but one things for sure, I rewatch The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy relatively regularly, and you’re damn right I’m going to review it! So grab your towel, stick out your thumb, and come with me on a journey into improbability and absurdity.
One Thursday morning whilst trying to stop his house being demolished to make way for a bypass, Arthur Dent (Martin Freeman) is rescued by his friend Ford Prefect (Mos Def) just as Earth is suddenly and swiftly demolished to make way for an intergalactic bypass. Hitchhiking their way across the Galaxy, Arthur and Ford make the acquaintance of Zaphod Beeblebrox (Sam Rockwell), the recently elected President of the Galaxy; Marvin (Warwick Davis & Alan Rickman) the clinically depressed android; and Trillian (Zooey Deschanel), an Earth woman whom Arthur met at a New Year’s party when she went by the name Trish.
Zaphod recently stole the spaceship and a race of alien bureaucrats known as Vogons (terrible poets) believe that Arthur, Ford, and Trish are his kidnappers; and so the hunt begins for the meaning of life, the universe, and everything, as well as to file the correct paperwork to ensure that they don’t remain intergalactic fugitives.
At the time a lot of the humour went over my head but the world was so peculiar and yet so relatable that I was completely captivated by Arthur Dent’s travels throughout the universe.
My local cinema wasn’t showing the film adaptation when it released, so I picked the DVD up as soon as I could, and I immediately fell in love with the books I adored now having this visual companion. Eager for adaptations of the other books, I waited patiently, followed what little news there was, and here I am the best part of two decades later still waiting. I don’t think a sequel ever got officially cancelled, and I’m not really sure why it never got made, but one things for sure, I rewatch The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy relatively regularly, and you’re damn right I’m going to review it! So grab your towel, stick out your thumb, and come with me on a journey into improbability and absurdity.
One Thursday morning whilst trying to stop his house being demolished to make way for a bypass, Arthur Dent (Martin Freeman) is rescued by his friend Ford Prefect (Mos Def) just as Earth is suddenly and swiftly demolished to make way for an intergalactic bypass. Hitchhiking their way across the Galaxy, Arthur and Ford make the acquaintance of Zaphod Beeblebrox (Sam Rockwell), the recently elected President of the Galaxy; Marvin (Warwick Davis & Alan Rickman) the clinically depressed android; and Trillian (Zooey Deschanel), an Earth woman whom Arthur met at a New Year’s party when she went by the name Trish.
Zaphod recently stole the spaceship and a race of alien bureaucrats known as Vogons (terrible poets) believe that Arthur, Ford, and Trish are his kidnappers; and so the hunt begins for the meaning of life, the universe, and everything, as well as to file the correct paperwork to ensure that they don’t remain intergalactic fugitives.
If I could sum The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy up in a single word it would be silly. Really, really silly. The best kind of silly, the kind of silly that leaves you giggling like a child when you hear a fart noise. In fact it’s so silly that I can completely understand when people tell me that it’s just not for them. But if you’re yet to experience the unbridled joy of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, then the best way to work out whether it’s for you is to watch the opening credits…a musical number sung by dolphins to tell humanity that their world is doomed, and that they’re really sad they won’t get to eat any more fish. Aptly titled, So Long and Thanks for all the Fish, this chorus of heavenly voices delivers one of the most bizarre songs you’ve likely ever heard, and if you’re not doubled over with tears streaming from your eyes then you can safely stop the film and go watch something boring instead because this is the kind of humour you’re dealing with and it’s going to be thrown at you thick and fast.
It strikes a great balance between the louder and somewhat obnoxious American humour, and the subtler and often stranger British humour, which considering this is based on an English radio show is really great as it expands the kind of humour the story is possible of delivering.
Considering the book is only a couple of hundred pages long, the film moves at a million miles an hour. It does expand into n various elements of the story, as well as drawing a handful of elements from the sequels, and of course change a number of elements to work better in a visual medium, but for the most part the core story remains the same. This breakneck pace may not be for everyone, but it’s no different from the kinds of films made by Phil Lord & Chris Miller such as The Lego Movie and Across the Spider-Verse, it’s snappy, zany, and is ideal for re-watches to catch all the gags you missed. In fact the film could have been a bit longer and it wouldn’t have hurt it at all, as it stands it’s a good length but once it’s all said and done you may feel as though there’s various things that could have been explored a bit more.
It strikes a great balance between the louder and somewhat obnoxious American humour, and the subtler and often stranger British humour, which considering this is based on an English radio show is really great as it expands the kind of humour the story is possible of delivering.
Considering the book is only a couple of hundred pages long, the film moves at a million miles an hour. It does expand into n various elements of the story, as well as drawing a handful of elements from the sequels, and of course change a number of elements to work better in a visual medium, but for the most part the core story remains the same. This breakneck pace may not be for everyone, but it’s no different from the kinds of films made by Phil Lord & Chris Miller such as The Lego Movie and Across the Spider-Verse, it’s snappy, zany, and is ideal for re-watches to catch all the gags you missed. In fact the film could have been a bit longer and it wouldn’t have hurt it at all, as it stands it’s a good length but once it’s all said and done you may feel as though there’s various things that could have been explored a bit more.
Everyone brings their best to the proceedings. This is one of Freeman’s earliest major roles, having only recently come off the back of The Office and yet to get his major breakthrough role in BBC’s Sherlock. He has made a career of being cast as the put upon everyman, and I think Arthur Dent is one of his best interpretations of that. He’s just perpetually lost, confused, scared, and just entirely out of his depth. His comedic timing is spot on, and the way he carries himself and shifts his physical performance depending on the situation really exemplifies why I feel he’s one of the best and most underrated actors in the business today.
Freeman casts a massive shadow over the rest of the cast, and whilst none hold a candle to him, they are all really great. Rockwell’s performance is particularly memorable because he just doesn’t hold back, he’s having the best time playing a total self-indulged moron and I can imagine that the rest of the cast and crew had a hard time keeping a straight face whenever he was in a scene. Rickman’s voice performance for Marvin is also absolutely hilarious, he just sound so depressed and miserable, and in combination with Davis’ physical performance in the costume makes for perhaps the most memorable character in the film.
It's also worth mentioning Stephen Fry’s voiceover for the animated encyclopaedic sequences where Arthur consults the eponymous Hitchhikers Guide. The simple animation mixed with Fry’s knowledgeable and reassuring tone works really well, they’re also effectively used to give the audience an exposition dump without it being clunkily delivered by another character.
I’m almost always in the mood to watch The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. It’s such a hugely underrated film, but I would say that if you like comedies or sci-fi then it’s essential viewing. The lack of sequels and an ending that very clearly sets them up can feel like a bit of a kick in the teeth, but you’ll have a blast from start to finish. Freeman shines like a star here, and he’s supported by so many other excellent performances. It’s just so inventive and unpredictable, and I’ll always hold on to the hope that the sequels may be revived one day. But for now, track down a copy, make sure you’ve got your towel, and above all, Don’t Panic!
Freeman casts a massive shadow over the rest of the cast, and whilst none hold a candle to him, they are all really great. Rockwell’s performance is particularly memorable because he just doesn’t hold back, he’s having the best time playing a total self-indulged moron and I can imagine that the rest of the cast and crew had a hard time keeping a straight face whenever he was in a scene. Rickman’s voice performance for Marvin is also absolutely hilarious, he just sound so depressed and miserable, and in combination with Davis’ physical performance in the costume makes for perhaps the most memorable character in the film.
It's also worth mentioning Stephen Fry’s voiceover for the animated encyclopaedic sequences where Arthur consults the eponymous Hitchhikers Guide. The simple animation mixed with Fry’s knowledgeable and reassuring tone works really well, they’re also effectively used to give the audience an exposition dump without it being clunkily delivered by another character.
I’m almost always in the mood to watch The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. It’s such a hugely underrated film, but I would say that if you like comedies or sci-fi then it’s essential viewing. The lack of sequels and an ending that very clearly sets them up can feel like a bit of a kick in the teeth, but you’ll have a blast from start to finish. Freeman shines like a star here, and he’s supported by so many other excellent performances. It’s just so inventive and unpredictable, and I’ll always hold on to the hope that the sequels may be revived one day. But for now, track down a copy, make sure you’ve got your towel, and above all, Don’t Panic!