Besides being a rather odd film itself, reviewing it (for me at least) is a bit odd as well. Why? Well for one, I know Richard (good friend of Douglas Adams), a very friendly chap, who incidentally heads up www.h2g2.com (the BBC Website founded by Douglas). And secondly, I, myself, have written a book that readers have compared to "Hitchhiker's Guide."

So for these reasons, I found myself struggling to remain objective and open-minded. Though such an effort was noble, I mentally chastised myself: "If I'm struggling to remain objective that likely means I'm failing at it."

The above qualifications stated, I'll try my best to review the film for you. With the whimsy and surreal funnery of "Time Bandits" and the bureaucratic threat of "Brazil" this film hyperblasts to the screen. (Oh, my goodness, does this mean the director of those two films, Terry Gilliam, was greatly influenced by "Hitchhikers?" If so I'll have a third reason not to be objective: I'm a huge Terry Gilliam fan.) "Hitchhikers" tangents through the galaxy through a comedy of errors (or "improbabilities" more correctly) while some search for answers, others seek the exact right question, and still others just try to hang onto their bath towels. It's good fun, doesn't take itself too seriously, but doesn't strike the emotive or the thinking bone too hard either.

Smashing performances by Zooey Deschanel and Mos Def. And while Sam Rockwell is very David Lee Roth (of the old Van Halen) bouncing like a pinball around the space ship, I kept wanting Owen Wilson in that role.

Amusing, but somehow not quite gripping or quenching, I'm tempted to give it a B, but I fear I'm unfairly biased, so I'll wimp out and make that a B+ (with qualifications).

(Interestingly enough, before it was a book, Adams had written "Hitchhikers" as a BBC radio play.)