The surprisingly not bad Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy (books/DVDs) movie opened as the top-grossing movie in America and Canada this weekend, taking more than $21 million. Not bad for an idea a drunk bloke had in a field.
Originally, news that the Douglas Adams (books) novel would be turned into a Disney movie had the spods experiencing feelings of happiness and fear at the same time, like you would if Lindsay Lohan was chasing you around a waterpark with an axe.
They were pleased because their beloved book was finally going to be made into a feature film, but worried because the company who were making it were also responsible for The Aristocats (DVDs).
Luckliy, it turned out pretty well. It caters for both the anoraks and the millions who have never heard of the Hitchhiker’s Guide in any of it’s previous forms.
There are some genuinely good performances in Guide, especially from Sam Rockwell (DVDs) as the two-headed ruler of the universe, and Bill Nighy (DVDs) as Slartibartfast. Martin Freeman does his usual vaguely OTT mugging routine, but he’s not as dreadful as he could have been.
It’s visually very attractive, too. Although in 30 years it might look as ridiculous as One Million Years BC (DVD) does when viewed now,the film stands up well against it’s peers. There are talking sofas, a doll that vomits wool, and a whale that fallsout of the sky and smashes into a mountain range, amongst other spectacles.
Now there’s news that the film might be turned into a trilogy. The book was only the first part of a series – now the film is a success it would be no surprise if Disney continue throwing out more and more of them.
But the best news about the movie doing well is that it made xXx2 look like the gormless, knuckle-dragging, perma-exploding, crosseyed movie shot exclusively in divvyvision that it is.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy is still probably at your local cinema, and for some original Hitchhiker thrills watch BBC2 tonight, as they’re repeating the 23 year-old TV series. Tune in at 11.20pm.
[story by Stuart Heritage]