Susan Granger’s review of “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” (Touchstone Pictures)
Confession: I never read Douglas Adams’ book. That having been said, let’s look at the movie: In England, bleary Arthur Dent (Martin Freeman) is having a really bad day. He discovers his house will be razed, his unflappable friend Ford Prefect (Mos Def) is an alien doing research and Earth is doomed to make way for a hyperspace bypass. (The dolphins warned us!) So Arthur and Ford hitch a ride on the Heart of Gold Spaceship, embarking on the misadventure of a lifetime. Joining them on the surreal speedway are Zaphod Beeblebrox (Sam Rockwell), the two-headed, three-armed Galaxy President, and curious, clever Trillian (Zooey Deschanel), their love interest. Then there’s the poignant planet craftsman Slartibartfast (Bill Nighy), morosely robotic Marvin (Warwick Davis with Alan Rickman’s voice) and malicious missionary Humma Kavula (John Malkovich). Plus voices of Deep Thought (Helen Mirren) and The Guide (Stephen Fry). En route to discovering answers to life’s eternal, philosophical pondering, they encounter a myriad of weird, whimsical beings created by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. Director Garth Jennings mixes high-tech, character-driven animatronics (like the bulbous, repulsive Vogons) with low-tech, 2-D comic animation for rich visuals. Production designer Joel Collins’ sci-fi universe is superbly photographed by Igor Jadue-Lillo. But the key is the eccentric cast: British comic Martin Freeman, hip-hop’s Mos Def, manic Sam Rockwell and kooky Zooey Deschanel. Is it chaotic, nonsensical and confusing? Yes. Yet, on the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” is an absurdist, inventive, intelligent 8. It’s a wry, silly, satirical spin on outer-and-inner space. Bring a towel and don’t leave Earth without it!
