Review By Kerry Edwards, 4.2 out of 5? wonder if it wants to be friends with me??/i>
Arthur Dent (Martin Freeman) wakes up one morning to find that the council want to knock his house down to make way for a bypass but little does he know things are going to get much worse.
When his friend Ford Prefect (Mos Def) turns up and reveals he is an alien and that the earth is going to be demolished to make way for an interplanetary bypass. In saving Arthur from earth before its demolition by hitching a ride on the Vogon spaceship Ford introduces Arthur to hitchhiking around the galaxy and the ultimate question.
I was thinking as I was awaiting for the film to start, ‘There is no way that they are going to transfer the humour and brilliance of the book onto film’. But they have largely succeeded.
Sam Rockwell’s performance of Zaphod Beeblebrox was an extremely accurate portrayal of a full of life, flamboyant, but slightly selfish character. Having said that all the other actors did a very good job of realizing their respective characters, though being uncertain of Zooey Deschanel who plays Trillian. I was happy to be wrong as she did a great job.
The has been changed from the book, but it does work as this is meant to be a stand alone film. Having said that it is left open for a sequel.
Highlights include Bill Bailey’s portrayal of the Blue Whale (quoted above) and Marvin The Paranoid Android (voiced by Alan Rickman with Warwick Davis in the suit). I thought Marvin was very funny and cute. I strongly recommend you see the film and see what I mean.
What really impressed me about this film is the fact it is not overladen with CGI effects, there are some CGI effects in the film but these are kept to a minimum, which is a very good film as I do think that some film makers rely too much on CGI.
The only negative comment I have is that the first 20 minutes were a little dull, but then nothing is perfect.
Hitchhiker’s guide has been languishing in development hell for around 25 years, unfortunately 4 years too late for the creator of the cult phenomenon, Douglas Adams.
Previously a radio serial, TV series, unused Doctor Who scripts and a series of fantastic books, The Hitchhikers Guide is here to stay, and no matter how the film is accepted by critics, h2g2 fans and laypersons.
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