by Chris Snelgrove
| Published
These days, filmmakers and audiences alike seem to be obsessed with crossovers, whether it's Deadpool and Wolverine teaming up to save the multiverse or Superman teaming up with characters like Mr. Marvel. Terrific and Guy Gardner to save the world. But can you believe that a movie released nearly 20 years ago now has the best team-up of its kind, bringing together stars from Marvel, Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings? The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Available now to stream on Hulu, it may be the most entertaining way to dive into the literary world of sci-fi legend Douglas Adams.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (based on Adams' book of the same name) is about a man who receives a warning from a friendly alien that Earth is about to be destroyed by other aliens. This leads them to the stars, where they soon become caught up in a mad galactic primate's quest to answer life's ultimate question. The answer may be enough to save the galaxy. Assuming, of course, that our heroes manage to survive that long.
The film is a (relatively) faithful adaptation of the iconography The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxyand features a wonderful cast, including Lord of the Rings The legendary Martin Freeman as our miserable human character. Some joined him Harry Potter Stars, including Warwick Davis who plays a robot voiced by Alan Rickman. Meanwhile, an unforgettable Marvel villain Sam Rockwell He plays the President of the Galaxy, and the cast includes other big names like Zooey Deschanel, Helen Mirren, John Malkovich and Stephen Fry.
Despite this star-studded cast, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy It only earned $104.5 million at the box office against a budget of $45-50 million. Originally, there were loose plans for a sequel, effectively creating a film franchise created by Douglas Adams Science fiction series. Unfortunately, Freeman later confirmed that the film's meager box office was not enough to warrant a big-budget follow-up.
As for the critics, they were somewhat divided The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. on Rotten tomatoesThe film has a critical rating of 60 percent, with critics generally complaining that the film could be more entertaining and that it may not be as accessible to those who have not read the book. Meanwhile, audiences have liked the film a bit more, and it currently holds a 65 percent Popcornmeter rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
In other words, this movie is hardly “new” among critics and didn't wow audiences enough to warrant a sequel. So why do I recommend streaming? The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? For one thing, the movie feels fresher than ever. In the age of Marvel's endless decline and audience fatigue with superheroes, it's great to see a big-budget genre feature doing its own thing.
Plus, director Garth Jennings actually got what he paid for when it came to this killer actor. Freeman brings an unassuming everyman charm while Rockwell delivers a great performance and even bigger laughs. Mos Def is smooth and graceful while Fry embodies understated charm and Deschanel…well, she's got the wide-eyed appeal of a Hungarian girl next door.
Finally, the film has a lot of soulfulness and often feels like an extended film Doctor Who An episode in its presentation of what is utterly wonderful as utterly ordinary. There is something Zen-like in much of the advice Ford Prefect gives Arthur Dent in the face of unimaginable disasters. By the end, you'll feel like you've somewhat indented yourself: ready to take on the entire galaxy (all while offering various cutting notes, of course).
short, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Filled with high-stakes plots and big-name actors, the result is a team that's bigger and better than most we've seen from Marvel or DC. Will you find this sci-fi classic as entertaining as we did, or will turning off the TV be your own answer to life, the universe and everything? You won't know, of course, until you stream the greatest adaptation of Douglas Adams' sweeping story for yourself on Holo.
