A Guide to The Hitchhiker's Guide on DVD

For many years The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy has endured in many different incarnations, such as a radio show, a novel, a TV miniseries and Graphic novels. Now, after spending almost twenty years in development Hell, one of the most popular Science fiction comedies finally made it to the silver screen.

The Hitchhiker's guide to the Galaxy, first part in the late Douglas Adams' infamously mislabeled Trilogy, was given a fresh take in a theatrical medium for a new generation and larger audience to enjoy in a film directed by Garth Jennings. After it's run in Movie Theater's around the world, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is now available on DVD.

It is unfortunate that Douglass Adams did not live to see and enjoy his creation making its greatest leap. Before he passed away, he worked very hard to make the realization of a Hitchhiker's movie come to fruition, and was able to write a complete screenplay.

Then again the Late Mr. Adams may not have enjoyed the film and might have died from shear disappointment. Unlike the other incarnations of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the movie does not fully live up to spirit of the story. It is a good movie, but that is where the problem lies. With a story filled lots of potential, this movie could have been great film rather than just plain ol' good.

However, most of that potential is wasted in favor of "new material" along with "Hollywood" ending and weak Character development. It is unclear how much is left of Douglas Adam's own vision this film Hitchhiker's, and what is someone else's version of the screenplay. The film attempts to remain true to the story, using some of the original material, insights and jokes, but some how falls short in capturing the full spirit of the Hitchhiker's Guide. However, it is the "Hollywood" ending that makes this movie totally misses the mark.

For those who are not familiar with The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, it is the Story about a book, a special book that contains knowledge and useful advice to help anyone get around the galaxy and survive. And most importantly has the word's "Don't Panic" written in friendly letters on its cover. It is the also story of Arthur Dent who discovers just how big the world really is when his friend, Ford Prefect, admits that he is really an alien just moments before the Earth is destroyed by the Vogons to make way for a hyperspace bypass.

And that's is just the beginning. Rescued from certain doom by Ford, Arthur and Ford hitchhike on one of the vogon ships After escaping or rather ejected from the clutches of the Vogons, the two friends manage to stowaway aboard The Heart of Gold, once again escaping certain doom, thanks to the ship's special improbability drive.

On the ship the two hitchhiker's meet Ford's cousin Zaphod Beeblebrox, the self centered president of the galaxy, Marvin, the clinically depressed robot and Trillion, an earth woman who Arthur loved and still pines for. Together they embark on a wonderful adventure through a turbulent and strange galaxy, and arrive the planet Magrethea. On this mysterious planet the motley crew of the Heart of Gold discovers the truth about Earth, that humans where only the third most intelligent beings on Earth and that the answer to the greatest of existence is 42.

The Movie, like the original novel and miniseries, begins with the destruction of the Earth, but with a twist. With an explanation Earth's impending doom, the opening credits starts off with a musical number by the dolphins as they leave Earth singing, "so long, and thanks for the fish." From that point the film seems to be on the right track until Arthur and Ford are ejected from the Vogon ship for hitchhiking.

Although, it does cut short the explanation of the "Babel Fish" and completely ignores why carrying a towel is important for anyone hitchhiking through the Galaxy. The film begins to muddle through when the crew of The Heart of Gold takes a detour from Magrethea to meet a cult leader named Humma Kavula, allegedly a character that Douglass Adam's created specifically for the film.

The story takes another sidetrack with an impromptu rescue mission to Vogsphere. Although the trip to Vogsphere is another distraction, it is overall a very funny sequence with Monty Python like elements and includes a brief cameo appearance of the "original" Marvin the robot from the BBC Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy miniseries. Simon Jones, the "Arthur Dent" of the BBC miniseries also has a cameo appearance as a hologram image recording.

The Costumes and make up effects are wonderfully done, including the alien creatures, especially the Vogons, courtesy of the Jim Henson creature shop. The Special Effects, such as the use of the Improbability drive, the Vogon constructor fleet, and the destruction of the Earth, are excellent and well done.

Still, flashy costumes, colorful sets, and "numb the senses" eye candy do not make a great film. These elements of moviemaking only enhance the story that is already great and or not meant to overshadow or distract from the story. A paradigm that George Lucas himself seems to have forgotten when he set out to make the prequel trilogy to Star Wars.

The film does have its moments of fun particularly with the entries from the Guide, but alas most of the best entries of the book are left out of the movie. The Characters of Ford and Marvin are left underdeveloped and nearly underused. Ford, with no fault to the actor Mos Def, almost seems like a tag-a-long who is dragged around rather than an active member on the adventure. As for Marvin, he seems to be completely ignored, just as he claims to be.

Martin Freeman, who plays Arthur Dent, comes across pathetic and annoying rather than hapless and out of place as Arthur should be. Sam Rockwell's portrayal of Zaphod Beeblebrox is adequate, considering how aloof and self-centered Zaphod the character really is.

As for Trillian, Zooey Deschanel seems stiff and nearly unemotional, but then again, accept for the history that we see between her and Arthur, Trillian's character is left underdeveloped with little motivation save for being in outer space for the sake it being away from Earth. Like the other characters, Trillian is just a cardboard cut out of what her character can be.

The DVD of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is loaded with features that add a new depth to the movie, such as the documentary about the making of the film. The special features also contain audio commentaries by of the executive producer and some of the actor's in the film.

Two more selections in the special features are the "So long and thanks for all the fish" sing along by the Dolphins, and the Marvin "hang man" game. The dolphin sing along is quite fun, while the Marvin game is certainly the most entertaining feature on the DVD, where you can literally make Marvin fall to pieces, as he makes depressing comments to you.

The DVD also features two sets of deleted scenes, regular scenes that were cut out of the movie and "fake" deleted scenes which are really outtakes made during filming. One more deleted scene is an extra Guide entry that given its own selection on the special features menu.

The Extra features of the Hitchhiker's Guide make the DVD worth watching, however it may not be worth keeping. On a rating scale of one to five, this DVD and film deserve a rating of two point five. Overall the movie is enjoyable and mildly fun to watch, despite some of the issues and lack of spirit to the Hitchhiker's Guide.

But once the film reaches its conclusion, the "Hollywood" ending leaves one with a large black hole of disappointment, completely ruining any salvageable entertainment of the movie that not even a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster can fix. If the ending of this movie does leave you unsatisfied, you might want to pass on this DVD and opt for the Original BBC miniseries, which is available on DVD.

So unless you are an extremely die-hard fan of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, this DVD may have an honored place in your movie collection. Then again, if you are an extremely die-hard fan, you might die from the shear disappointment of the film's ending.