Review of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005) by Tyler M — 31 Mar 2012

So long and thanks for all the fish!

Didn't expect to be too entertained, but I sat down and watched anyway.. Was I entertained? You'll just have to read to find out.

The Story: A group of oddballs wander through space seeking the answer to "the ultimate question"... There's a lot of cool visuals here, and the set design has a cool Jetsons Vibe to it, that's full of originality. The script is packed with wit, and charm and it reflects well on the characters. While the film could be better, it's hard to say how. The film moves around at a decent pace, and rarely stops with the off the wall humor, hell the credits are even lined with jokes. Fans of science fiction and fantasy will find a lot of value here, and there's enough comedy to pull in most people that don't generally like the genre. Plus it's refreshing to see a film that's honestly safe for all ages, this film got a PG! That's right a P - FRICKEN - G! Where they could have added crude humor they opted for more original jokes. Where they could have had scantily clad women, they chose a more conservative look. This film is a breath of fresh air, 'nuff said.

The Cast: Mos Def, Zooey Deschanel, Martin Freeman, Stephen Fry, Sam Rockwell, Warwick Davis... Mos Def is Ford Perfect, he's not human but he looks like it. He's the lovable guy that saves our hero from certain death when the world is on the verge of extinction. He gives an energetic performance here, and you definitely won't forget him. Once again this is one of those choices that makes this film a breath of fresh air. Some might say that Dave Chappelle would be better cast for this part, but Mos Def is definitely the right choice. Martin Freeman is Arthur Dent, just your average Joe, who's house is about to be torn down. He's almost like Alice in Wonderland here, or Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. Anyone that doesn't feel for this lovable guy should check their chest, because they might in fact be heartless. A great performance makes him stand out. Zooey Deschanel is Trillian, an adventurer through and through, as she wants to see everything there is to see and do everything there is to do. She gives a great performance here as well, even if you might not like her character all that much. Sam Rockwell is Zaphod Beeblebrox, the cockiest man in the universe and the president of it as well. He wants fame and money and nothing else. He's not a likeable character, but he's a memorable one. He gives a great energetic performance here that almost steals the show. Stephen Fry is our trusty Narrator, he tells us all the fun facts of the universe, and adds a surprising lot to the story. And last but definitely not least, Warwick Davis is Marvin. My personal favorite here, he's the manic depressive robot, this is perhaps the greatest robot character ever! You'll honestly feel sorry for him by the end of the film, and you'll be cheering him on when shows he's got some courage. There's your cast, there's a lot more interesting characters that show up throughout the film, but these are the ones that make it what it is.

One to Five Scale: 4.

It's memorable characters, refreshing script, and good visuals make this one a solid four. It would probably be higher for anyone that's a fan of the science fiction genre. So if you're a fan of sci-fi, than you might as well add one to that score.

Tyler.

03/23/06.