The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy

Douglas Adams’ popular novel comes to filmic life as Earthling Arthur Dent (Martin Freeman) hitches a ride into outer space with his alien pal Ford Perfect (Mos Def) when Earth is detonated to make way for a hyperspace bypass. Wacky aliens abound as Arthur and Ford hitch their way onto a stolen spacecraft with the bi-polar (two-headed) President of the Galaxy, Zaphod Beeblebrox (Sam Rockwell – “Matchstick Men”) and his cute American assistant Trillian (Zooey Deschanel). Adams’ infectious and innocent British humor translates nicely in debut director Garth Jennings’ even-handed manipulation of the kind-hearted themes on hand. “The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy” is an enjoyable sci-fi romp with a strong twist of self-effacing British raillery that children of all ages will get a charge from.
Rated PG-13. 110 mins. (B+) (Four Stars)