This very funny film is based on a series of very popular science fiction radio shows and books by the late Douglas Adams (1952-2001).
Just the other day, in rural England, Arthur Dent (Martin Freeman) wakes up to find that the highway commission is going to demolish his house so they can build a motorway (highway). They had posted their intent, but Arthur ignored it. Arthur is greatly upset and lies down in front of the bulldozer to stop them. Just then his friend, Ford Perfect (Mos Def) arrives to tell him and folks at the local pub, that the end of earth is coming because the Vogons (I think that’s who they were) are coming to demolish it to make an inter-galaxy highway. Ford and Arthur hitch a ride on a spaceship filled with Vogons and their inter-galactic adventures begin. They become part of a search for the meaning of life.
This film is so absurd that in the end I think its premise it one of happy nihilism: there is no meaning to life, but you might as well be happy and make the best of it. I do not say this in a disparaging way. The Hitchhiker’s Guide is a brilliant concept, and if you ever find out why towels are so important to the journey, please let me know.
If you like philosophy and don’t take yourself too seriously, I think the film could offer much to talk about. And be kind to mice; you just never know.
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1 comment:
I like to think of this film as a wide variety of thoughts on existence, the meaning of life, and our place in the universe. What really struck me, as I have put in my own blog (http://spiritualpopcorn.blogspot.com), Hitchhiker's Guide offers viewers a chance to ask themselves, what would I do if the world would end in 15 minutes? "You know not the hour or the date when the Son of Man shall come," said Christ. I think Hitchhiker's Guide speaks to that uncertainty, but the need to make the most of the life we have been blessed with.
I personally found the movie a fun romp through the galaxy with enjoyable characters and quick-pace editing to keep you on your feet, or in this case, glued to the seat in the theatre (although you are right in questioning what the meaning of the towel was; did anyone figure that out?).
In the end, the movie was about Arthur's search for love. While romantic, I think that the single-heartedness of Arthur to see this as the one thing he really wanted in the universe above all else speaks to the passage in 1 John: "God is love."
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