Toon Talk: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
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(c) Disney
The humor in Hitchhiker’s - what could be called a Monty Python-esque jaunt through the canons of sci fi iconography (Adams himself contributed to Monty Python’s Flying Circus, as well as another popular British television import, Doctor Who) - has not aged well over the years spanning from its creation to its present incarnation, or, at the very least, a lot gets lost in the transition from page to screen. Unlike such other recent literary fantasies that have successfully made that leap (The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter), Hitchhiker’s isn’t given the running time to breathe, clocking in at just under two hours.
I’m sure the ardent Adams admirers out there, with all they bring to the table, will find equal parts epiphanic and blasphemous in this realization. But they should remember to heed their icon’s main litany: "don’t panic" ... it’s only a movie after all.
Toon Talk Rating: C+
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In this ‘Toon Talk’ feature, I’ll briefly highlight a recommended film or DVD, outside of the Disney universe, of similar interest to the main subject. Science fiction and comedy don’t mix well … anybody remember Quark? One of the better efforts to blend the two genres in recent years is Galaxy Quest (1999, Universal/DreamWorks DVD, Rated PG), a clever poke at the Star Trek mythos starring such Disney faves as The Santa Claus’ Tim Allen, Holes’ Sigourney Weaver and Spy Kids’ Tony Shalhoub, as well as future Hitchhikers Alan Rickman and Sam Rockwell. They are cast as actors in a popular sci fi TV show who end up saving the universe for real when they are recruited by an alien race who believe the show is for real (talk about your reality shows … ). And though the movie itself never quite blasts off into hyperspace, the characters are an endearing band of misfits who triumph in spite of themselves, much like the circus bugs in A Bug’s Life. |
Coming Soon in Toon Talk:
- Pocahontas
And Coming Soon from Buena Vista Home Video:
- Hayley Mills fans rejoice - three of her classic films finally arrive on DVD: Summer Magic, In Search of the Castaways and That Darn Cat!; Nicholas Cage stars in the action hit National Treasure; the Disney Channel production of Heidi starring Jason Robards and Jane Seymour; the Oscar-nominated, acclaimed French film The Chorus (Les Choristes); and Three Amigos … no, not the Steve Martin movie, but a concert film starring a trio of Latin comedians (May 3rd).
- A special extended edition of the Disney Channel movie Kim Possible: So the Drama; and Wes Anderson’s quirky comedy The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (May 10th).
- Something old, something new: the second season set of The Golden Girls and the complete first season of Scrubs (May 17th).
- From the “Wasn’t this just in theaters?�? department: Pooh’s Heffalump Movie (May 24th).
- Lindsay Lohan fans rejoice - her Disney Channel movie Get a Clue and a Special Edition of The Parent Trap (May 31st).
- More Tool Time with the Complete Second Season of Home Improvement; and a batch of Special Editions: a 15th Anniversary edition of Father of the Bride, a Director’s Cut of the Oscar-winning Sling Blade, and Unrated version of Coyote Ugly and, naturally, an Unrated Director’s Cut of Gone in 60 Seconds (June 7th).
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-- Kirby C. Holt
-- Logo by William C Searcy, Magic Bear Graphics
Kirby is a lifelong Disney fan and film buff. He is also an avid list maker and chronic ellipsis user ...
Took Talk: Disney Film & Video Reviews by Kirby C. Holt is posted whenever there's something new to review.
The opinions expressed by our Kirby C. Holt, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future plans of the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.
-- Posted April 20, 2005