Reviews

In one scene, Paula and another character are dealing with some problem when a third person interrupts them (I told you that my memories were vague). Paula protests that they can't deal with the interloper's problem because they are too busy dealing with their own. "We have whales to fry!" I love that expression and occasionally use it myself. In another episode, Oliver has been a writer on the show for some time but has been very frugal with his increased salary. His co-workers encourage to splurge with some of his money and treat himself to a new car. He goes out and buys a high-end sports car that is way outside his price range. Now his friends advise him to return the car and get out of the financial obligation. "You can't just return a car like this; they won't take it back!", he protests. Nicolette Bingham, Carol Kane's character, replies in her honeyed southern accent, "Why, Oliver, if you simply inform them that you won't be making the payments, I'm sure that they will be happy to take it back."

Anyone seeing this movie will be coming from one of two backgrounds: those that are familiar with the works of Douglas Adams in all their various forms, and those who are new to it all. This familiarity, or lack of it, will influence how the movie is received. While I am firmly in the "familiar" group, I tried disregard my prejudices and see the movie through the eyes of someone who was just seeing it because the previews piqued their interest. On that basis, I find it to be a pretty good movie--entertaining and humorous with wacky characters and bizarre situations. I recommend it to anyone with a healthy sense of humor. From the point of view of someone familiar with Douglas Adams, the movie can be very disappointing. Some of the greatest lines--things that you were expecting to hear and enjoy again--are missing or mangled and stripped of the laugh. One critic who had written a biography of Adams hated the movie and wrote a review that made it sound like the worst movie ever made. In the unlikely event that you are an Adams fan and you haven't seen this movie yet I would say: go with an open mind and appreciate it when it works and don't get bent out of shape when it doesn't. Keep in mind that this screenplay contains the final installment of Adams life work. If this movie is your introduction to Douglas Adams, I strongly recommend that you explore further. Listen to the radio series, read the books or listen to the audio books read by Adams himself, and check out the BBC television series. For me, the real success of this movie will be measured by the number people who are introduced to this fantastic body of work by it.

This is a movie that deserves another look--if you haven't seen it for a while, or a first look--if you were too young when it came out (1983). Based on a play by the same name, it is the story of an older actor who heads a touring Shakespearean repertory company in England during World War II. It deals with his stress of trying to perform a Shakespeare each night while facing problems such as bombed theaters and a company made up of older or physically handicapped actors--the young, able bodied ones being taken for military service. It also deals with his relationship with various members of his company, especially with his dresser. So far it all sounds rather dull but nothing could be further from the truth. While tragic overall, the story is told with a lot of humor and emotions run high throughout. The two male leads both received Oscar nominations for best actor and deservedly so. I strongly recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys human drama, theater--especially Shakespeare, or who has ever worked backstage in any capacity. The backstage goings-on make up another facet of the movie that will be fascinating to most viewers.