The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

The long-time-coming big-screen adaptation of Douglas Adams’ apocalyptic yet humorous novel is at once entertaining and slightly irritating. Clearly trying to stuff as much as he can into one film, director Garth Jennings has made a movie that throws a little too much at you, and those who are unfamiliar with the material might find themselves a bit lost. On the plus side, the film looks great (especially the Vogons, slimy green aliens who recite bad poetry) and is acted well for the most part. Sam Rockwell is a major kick as Intergalactic President Zaphod Beeblebrox, as is Bill Nighy as Slartibartfast, constructor of planets. However, Martin Freeman is a bit too bland in the central role of Arthur Dent. The opening sequence, in which dolphins sing an operatic goodbye to the planet before blasting off to the heavens, gets the movie off to a good start. What follows is a mixed bag.