Hitchhikers Guide takes many wrong turns

Thursday, May 05, 2005

Despite its obvious cult following, I entered the new film The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy not knowing what to expect. In fact, when I first saw the teaser trailer, I thought it was an adaptation of a Lily Tomlin one-woman show (for the record, that would be Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe) and not a film based on a popular book and BBC mini-series.

I mention this fact because that clearly makes me uninformed when it comes to reviewing this for the already built-in audience. Is it true to the original work? I really couldnt tell you. But for those people as clueless and curious as I was, I can warn you this science-fiction adventure isnt terrible, but it is full of more misses than hits.

The plot is simple. Brit Arthur Dent (Martin Freeman) is rescued by his friend, an alien in disguise, Ford Prefect (Mos Def), right before Earth is destroyed.

The pair set off on a whirlwind adventure across the galaxies meeting some unusual characters along the way.

There were moments in Hitchhiker where I was mildly amused, including a musical number by dolphins right before they leave Earth, but for the most part, the dry British humor just fell flat. It was like watching a gag reel of all the Monty Python moments that didnt work.

Part of the problem could have been the cast. Freeman and Mos Def just arent that dynamic in their respective roles. Hitchhiker does throw in small parts for John Malkovich and Bill Nighy, as well as speaking parts for Helen Mirren and Alan Rickman, but none is given enough screen time to connect.

The best performance comes from Sam Rockwell, who plays the president of the galaxy as sort of a cross between George Bush and Jim Morrison.

But even Rockwell isnt enough to prevent this from being middle-of-the-road. I can respect what everyone involved was trying to do in The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, but that doesnt mean I have to like it or recommend it to anyone else.

Discount dandy of the week

This weeks discount dandy is Million Dollar Baby, (A-) the Clint Eastwood boxing drama that took home four Academy Awards, including best picture.

Eastwood directed and stars as Frankie Dunn, an aging boxing manager who reluctantly agrees to train Maggie (Hilary Swank), a fighter in her early 30s who sees boxing as the only way to escape her white trash roots.

But Million Dollar Baby is more than just your standard formula boxing picture. Eastwood and screenwriter Paul Haggis look deep into the relationship between Maggie, Frankie and Frankies long-time friend and cut man Eddie (Morgan Freeman) a relationship that is tested in the films final act.

Everyone is in top form here. Freeman and Swank both won Academy Awards and their work was worthy of the recognition.

There are some people who had a problem with the films final act, including film critic Michael Medved who purposely spoiled the ending in his column. While I didnt think the ending was nearly as offensive as Medved, I did have problems with it mainly because I thought it didnt take a stand and tried to straddle both sides of the fence on the issue it addressed.

Still, its a minor gripe in an otherwise amazing film that allows Eastwoods stock as a director to soar to even more lofty heights.

Million Dollar Baby opens Friday at the Plaza 6, where all movies are $1.50.

Sportswriter/movie reviewer Micheal Compton didnt get a single birthday wish last week, so everyone has been removed from his Christmas card list. If youd like to make amends, e-mail him at mcompton@bgdailynews.com. If you act quickly, he might forgive you this time.

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