by Nonsequitur

Created on: June 10, 2007

(*SPOILERS TO FOLLOW*)
The 2005 film, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, loosely combines elements of Douglas Adams' series of books. The likeability of the series, turned many of the existing sci-fi world on its head, echoes the likeability of the movie. With names like Helen Mirren, Mos Def and Zooey Deschanel, it's really hard NOT to like this movie.

In spite of that, though, I do have my misgivings. The relationships in the film version are not well explained, particularly the relationship that is supposed to the film's pinnacle, between Arthur Dent (played by bumbling Martin Freeman who spends the entire film in his bathrobe) and Trillian (played by the utterly likeable Zooey Deschanel). Trillian's character in the book was initially not your prototypical heroine that the protagonist falls in love with. If you think about it, neither is the Trillian in the film, though this kind of gets brushed over as the film progresses. When the couple in typical Hollywood style professes his love for the heroine in the end, it seems all very sudden and somewhat surprising, as though the characters suddenly realized that the film was about to end and they may as well get on with it.

The guide at one point says" "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy also talks about love. It says, 'Avoid if at all possible.'" I suppose while that may not have worked for the film, I think the actual execution of that love could have used more development.

That being said, I find it very very hard to NOT like this film. Mos Def is delightful as always and John Malcovich as Humma Kavula is great. Zaphod Beeblebrox (Sam Rockwell) is somewhat annoying, but playing the part of the politician I suppose that may just be exactly what the director ordered. Stephen Fry, narrating as the guide, echoes Douglas Adams voice brilliantly. The tongue-in-cheek narration is at times quite beautiful and is most often very clever. A film can't really go too wrong with Douglas Adams lending his words.

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