Review of H2G2
OK… pop quiz time.
Choose one.
A) I am a hoopy frood who knows where my towel is.
B) What?
If you chose A, I’ve got good news. Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is finally out. After numerous delays, the lovely folks at Spyglass Entertainment have managed to make a movie that is, at least visually, acceptable. Sure, the Heart of Gold isn’t what most of us have imagined, and Marvin looks like a reject from Star Wars, but when books are translated to the screen, there is some license taken.
The characters are well-cast. Martin Freeman (BBC’s The Office) makes an acceptable Arthur Dent. He’s the proper Britisher who can queue with the best of ‘em, and who you would pass on the street without a second glance. Mos Def does a lovely job as Ford Prefect. He is just off-center enough to be convincing as someone from a small planet near Betelgeuse, but grounded when Arthur (or the audience) needs things explained. Zooey Deschamel is adorable as Tricia McMillan (Trillian). Unlike the books’ Trillian, this Trillian is a strong feminine character who is not afraid to show her feelings. Alan Rickman shows a proper level of world-weariness as the voice of Marvin the Paranoid Android, and Bill Nighy as Slartibartfast came close to stealing the show. His self-effacing personality made an otherwise overwhelming sequence make sense. Sam Rockwell (apparently channeling Dubya) did a great job as Zaphod Beeblebrox, but his over-the-top performance was grating at times.
Now for the bad news. The story line bears some resemblance to Douglas Adams’s book, but much of the original backstory didn’t make it in. In fact, the character of Humma Kavula (John Malkovich, every bit as coldly psycho as many of his other roles) was created by Adams for the movie. So, if you’re a fan of the books, you will be disappointed. Some of the good jokes made it in, and the movie was pretty funny overall, but the movie is not true to the book. I can understand why; it would be hard to translate this book to film without losing a lot in the process, even under the best of circumstances. But given the lengthy development process and Adams’s death in 2001, these were not the best of circumstances. Finally, and this is a criticism of Touchstone Pictures, the ending screamed “sequel!”
If you can keep an open mind, Hitchhiker’s is actually a pretty pleasant diversion.
Now, won’t you join me for lunch at the Restaurant at the End of the Universe?
Choose one.
A) I am a hoopy frood who knows where my towel is.
B) What?
If you chose A, I’ve got good news. Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is finally out. After numerous delays, the lovely folks at Spyglass Entertainment have managed to make a movie that is, at least visually, acceptable. Sure, the Heart of Gold isn’t what most of us have imagined, and Marvin looks like a reject from Star Wars, but when books are translated to the screen, there is some license taken.
The characters are well-cast. Martin Freeman (BBC’s The Office) makes an acceptable Arthur Dent. He’s the proper Britisher who can queue with the best of ‘em, and who you would pass on the street without a second glance. Mos Def does a lovely job as Ford Prefect. He is just off-center enough to be convincing as someone from a small planet near Betelgeuse, but grounded when Arthur (or the audience) needs things explained. Zooey Deschamel is adorable as Tricia McMillan (Trillian). Unlike the books’ Trillian, this Trillian is a strong feminine character who is not afraid to show her feelings. Alan Rickman shows a proper level of world-weariness as the voice of Marvin the Paranoid Android, and Bill Nighy as Slartibartfast came close to stealing the show. His self-effacing personality made an otherwise overwhelming sequence make sense. Sam Rockwell (apparently channeling Dubya) did a great job as Zaphod Beeblebrox, but his over-the-top performance was grating at times.
Now for the bad news. The story line bears some resemblance to Douglas Adams’s book, but much of the original backstory didn’t make it in. In fact, the character of Humma Kavula (John Malkovich, every bit as coldly psycho as many of his other roles) was created by Adams for the movie. So, if you’re a fan of the books, you will be disappointed. Some of the good jokes made it in, and the movie was pretty funny overall, but the movie is not true to the book. I can understand why; it would be hard to translate this book to film without losing a lot in the process, even under the best of circumstances. But given the lengthy development process and Adams’s death in 2001, these were not the best of circumstances. Finally, and this is a criticism of Touchstone Pictures, the ending screamed “sequel!”
If you can keep an open mind, Hitchhiker’s is actually a pretty pleasant diversion.
Now, won’t you join me for lunch at the Restaurant at the End of the Universe?