CLEMENTINE'S REVIEWS

7th October 2009
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (2005)

Director: Garth Jennings
Writer: Douglas Adams, Karey Kirkpatrick (screenplay)
Starring: Martin Freeman, Sam Rockwell, Mos Def, Bill Nighy, Zooey Deschanel, Warwick Davis, Alan Rickman, Helen Mirren, Stephen Fry, John Malkovich

Things aren't going to well for poor Arthur Dent (Martin Freedman). His house is due for demolition and a potential love interest (Zooey Deschanel) is swept away by a smarmy Captain (Sam Rockwell). Life takes another dive when Arthur's friend Ford Prefect (Mos Def) reveals himself as a space traveller and whisks him off Earth just before it is demolished to make way for a hyperspace highway.

Douglas Adams laboured away on this script, adapting it for screen with some minor changes. It sat in development hell for over 20 years as attached actors and directors fell by the wayside, and unfortunately was not produced before Adams' passing in 2001. It's final incarnation was created in the capable hands of Garth Jennings and the film maintains the great sense of fun and humour from the previous productions. It's hard to imagine any more old school sci fi adventuring zaniness adapted to screen (in any other context than Doctor Who) but I really hope that they do because it's such silly fun on the barren landscape of over-produced slick sci fi, or cheap modern slap stick parading as comedy.

It feels so very British: the humour, the class act cast, and the overriding need for a good cuppa tea. We are given a very witty narration by Stephen Fry. The Jim Henson creations are great and so personable, much better suited to this film than over the top CGI. I can't imagine anyone delivering Marvin as wonderfully as Alan Rickman, and Warwick Davis' sealed the performance. A cameo by Bill Bailey was...touching.

Verdict: A light, silly and fun space romp with a formidable cast.