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These days, filmmakers and audiences alike seem obsessed with crossovers, whether it’s Deadpool and Wolverine teaming up to save the multiverse or Superman teaming up with characters like Mr. Terrific and Guy Gardner to save the world. But would you believe that a film that came out nearly 20 years ago is now the ultimate genre team-up, bringing together stars from Marvel, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings? The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is now available to stream on Hulu, and it might just be the most fun way to delve 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 will be destroyed by other aliens. This leads them both to the stars, where they are quickly caught up in the galactic president’s mad quest to answer the ultimate question of life. The answer could be enough to save the galaxy. Assuming, of course, that our heroes manage to survive that long.
The film serves as a (relatively) faithful adaptation of the iconic The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxyand has a great cast, incl lord of the rings legend Martin Freeman as our hapless human protagonist. Some join him Harry Potter stars, including Warwick Davis as a robot who happens to be voiced by Alan Rickman. Meanwhile, a memorable Marvel villain Sam Rockwell 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 stellar cast, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy it only made a measly $104.5 million at the box office against a budget of $45-50 million. Originally, there were loose plans to create a sequel, effectively creating a film series from Douglas Adams’ seminal work. science fiction series. Unfortunately, Freeman later confirmed that the film’s modest box office wasn’t enough to warrant a big-budget sequel.
As for the critics, they were a bit divided The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. On Rotten tomatoesthe film has a 60 percent critical rating, with critics generally complaining that the film could be funnier and that it may not be as accessible to those who have not read the book. Meanwhile, audiences have enjoyed the film a bit more, and it currently holds a 65 percent Popcornmeter rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
In other words, this is a film that’s barely “fresh” among critics and hasn’t wowed audiences enough to merit a sequel. So why do I recommend streaming? The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy? First, the film feels fresher than ever. In an age of endless Marvel sloppiness and superhero audience fatigue, it’s wonderful to see a big-budget genre feature doing its own thing.
Plus, director Garth Jennings effectively got what he paid for when it comes to this killer cast. Freeman brings an understated charm to everyone, while Rockwell delivers a big performance and even bigger laughs. Mos Def is all polish and glamour, while Fry embodies understated charm and Deschanel… well, she’s wide-eyed charisma like the galactic girl next door.
Finally, the film has a lot of heart and often feels extended Doctor Who an episode in its presentation of the completely fantastic as completely mundane. There is something zen about the many pieces of advice Ford Prefect offers Arthur Dent in the face of otherwise unimaginable calamities. You’ll end up feeling a bit like Dent: ready to take on the entire galaxy (all with different cutting notes, of course).
abbreviation The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is full of high-stakes plots and familiar actors, and the result is a team bigger and better than most we’ve seen from Marvel or DC. Will you find this sci-fi classic as entertaining as we do, or will turning off the TV be your own answer to life, the universe and everything? Of course, you won’t know until you download Adams’ greatest adaptation of Douglas’s story for yourself Hulu.
