Where is the magic? I don't know. It's certainly a competent retelling of the story, with numerous shout-outs to fans of the book and BBC series. The song "So Long and Thanks for All the Fish," is a charming touch, but doesn't seem quite as inspired as it should be. In fact, the whole film feels that way. There are some very, very funny moments, but overall it feels like a shadow of what it represents.

The casting is strong, too, but forced into a relatively quick retelling of the story, there's not much time for character development (although there wasn't all that much in the book, to be honest). Adams and co-writer Karey Kirkpatrick do a good job of maintaining the original structure and key plot points of the novel. The reverence for the late, great author's work is clear.

The inclusion of the guide's entries (and retro look of their presentation) is probably the strongest and most unique aspect of the film. Still, in the end, there's something sort of on-target but without resonance about the whole thing. Can't quite put my finger on it. Still, I recommend it for fans of the book. Actually, I'd be very curious to see the reaction of someone unfamiliar with the series.