HG2G Hits America

Initial report from the New Orleans “premiere” of Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy:

Giggling at Page 1. Laughing out loud on reading some Vogon poetry and discovering that the worst kind was written by a lady from Sussex. Doubling over with full-blown laughter at the definition of a Babel fish. Suppressing all kinds of hysterics while irrevocably stuck to the story. The preceding are all examples of what Douglas Adams’ famous books caused me to endure as a child reading them. The 2005 cinematic version doesn’t induce much of this at all, but is surprisingly quite funny (and I don’t mean in an Ewokish way, which is not funny at all), and equally pleasing in the CG department.

My favorite moments from the film, however, have nothing to do with the human actors and are instead the wicked and original animated snippets of the Guide with well-timed voiceovers by The Book / Stephen Fry. In terms of acting and script, Sam Rockwell makes the film, by being simply superb as Zaphod Beeblbrox. Having seen him in Galaxy Quest, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and now HG2G, Rockwell has emerged as one of my new favorite actors. I’ve always harbored a secret crush on Alan Rickman’s voice (not so secret now), but this time his snarky velveteen one-liners, made famous in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and the Harry Potter flicks, don’t suit the people personality of a depressed robot. Stephen Moore 4ever. More on the rest of the cast and the movie itself in a later post.

I know, I know, you wish I’d just tell you rather than try to engage your enthusiasm. But, as the late great Mr. Adams himself said, “Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.” So, you should watch HG2G and acquire your own point of view. If you haven’t already, this may prompt you to read all of the books, go back and watch the BBC series and listen to the radio broadcast on BBC 4.

After what I’ve just said, if you’re worried that the film will not live up to your expectations, I have two words for you: Don’t Panic. Just Watch It. Ok, those were five words.

Interesting bits: Look for “old Marvin” in line at the Vogsphere Administration Office. Incidentally, the depressing portion of Vogsphere in which the escape pod lands and the humanoids get slapped was, not surprisingly, shot in a Welsh quarry.