Review of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005) by Joel C — 13 Apr 2013

ADDITIONAL ONE: I have been told that this film isn't for everyone, by the lukewarm reception from newcomers to the franchise. Still, for anyone with the warped sense of humour required to appreciate Douglas Adams, this film works.

ORIGINAL REVIEW: The story of an average Earth man, a Hitchhiking alien from Beetleguese/Guildford, a two-headed Galactic President with a brain powered by lemons and an Earth girl he picked up at a fancy dress party, who use a drive that can turn people into couches, wool and flowers to determine exactly which question goes with the Ultimate Answer, 42. All of this without losing track of their towels.

It's a true classic, and Douglas Adams' masterpiece deserved a good and loyal film treatment, and it got one here. The classic humour often speaks for itself, and it's accentuated by narration by the infallible Stephen Fry, and a solid cast including Martin Freeman, Mos Def, Sam Rockwell, Zooey Deschanel, Alan Rickman, Helen Mirren, Bill Bailey, John Malkovich and Bill Nighy, among others.

Hitchhiker's works best when it's being irreverant, and this film doesn't take itself - or it's source material - too seriously, resulting in an entertaining comedy full of Vogon poetry, overenthusiastic ship computers and one manically depressed robot.This movie is a massive success, with a probability of 14847291737514:1 against.