IF you loved the book, you will love the film. If you didn't read it, you will scratch your head. What you shouldn't do is ignore it.

As a fan, it worked for me. Take a number of seemingly unrelated coincidences, add some mishaps, throw in some wacky humour and the random events all conspire to confuse.

However, stick with it, go with the flow and its gratifying conclusion will bring a warm glow to your heart.

Douglas Adams' classic novel is brought alive through our reluctant hero Arthur Dent, played to good effect by Martin Freeman, who takes us from the destruction of planet Earth to make way for an intergalactic highway, and on to a series of mini-adventures.

The graphics are good and the characters include nice cameos from some well-known English stars, including Bill Nighy as the Architect and a wonderful voice over by Alan Rickman as the seriously depressed robot Marvin.

If you are tired of the same old movie formulas, this will give food for thought. Go for it, I loved it, just wish it had been longer.

Brian Morrison