The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy | A-

director: Garth Jennings
starring: Martin Freeman, Mos Def, Sam Rockwell, Zooey Deschanel, Alan Rickman

At once confusing, hilarious, baffling, and altogether obnoxious, the movie adaptation of Douglas Adams’ classic novel embodies the same spirit that made the book so popular, and does it well. Numerous attempts have been made to make the book into a movie over the years, and I’m sure there was widespread sentiment that it would never get done. The project went through numerous writers and directors, eventually settling on virtual unknown Garth Jennings. Not exactly a past track record that would indicate future success. Despite the odds, Jennings pulled it off (with the help of co-screenwriter Adams, of course) and made a film that does the novel proud and works pretty damn well as a sci-fi comedy.

One wouldn’t think that a novel about an Englishman and his friend hitchhiking through the galaxy after Earth is blown up and that features singing dolphins, a two-headed President of the Galaxy, a clinically-depressed robot and a guide that advocates having a towel at all times could translate into a conherent film. Well, maybe it doesn’t need to be coherent, as that goes counter to the whole spirit of the story. The movie works on every level the book did, and I highly recommend seeing it (and read the book if you haven’t already). I leave you with the lyrics to “So Long and Thanks For All the Fish,” sung by dolphins, the 2nd most intelligent species on Earth (behind only mice, which are actually a race of hyper-intelligent pan-dimensional beings), just before they escape Earth:

So long and thanks for all the fish
So sad that it should come to this
We tried to warn you all but oh dear?

You may not share our intellect
Which might explain your disrespect
For all the natural wonders that
grow around you

So long, so long and thanks
for all the fish

The world’s about to be destroyed
There’s no point getting all annoyed
Lie back and let the planet dissolve

Despite those nets of tuna fleets
We thought that most of you were sweet
Especially tiny tots and your
pregnant women

So long, so long, so long, so long, so long
So long, so long, so long, so long, so long

So long, so long and thanks
for all the fish

(yeah)

So long and thanks for all the fish
So sad that it should come to this
We tried to warn you all but oh dear?

(oh dear)

Despite those nets of tuna fleets
We thought that most of you were sweet
Especially tiny tots and your
pregnant women

So long, so long, so long, so long, so long
So long, so long, so long, so long, so long

So long, so long and thanks
for all the fish