Screenwriter Karey Kirkpatrick ("Chicken Run") has done a good job of preserving the tone and flavor of Adams' unique writing style and humor, though he fails to properly explain the significance of having a towel, which is one of the book's highlights.

On the performance side, Rockwell appears to be having fun channeling both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, and acid-voiced Alan Rickman steals scenes as the voice of the depressed robot Marvin.

(Speaking of which, fans of the 1981 BBC television version should keep an eye peeled for the original Marvin the Robot, which appears in a scene set of the Vogon home planet.)

"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" is rated PG for scenes of sci-fi/action violence (laser blasts and explosive mayhem, as well as slapstick), mildly vulgar humor and suggestive references and scattered use of mild profanity (mostly religiously based). Running time: 108 minutes.

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E-mail: jeff@desnews.com