Science fiction suffers too much from George Lucas
syndrome, and the primary symptom is an endless barrage of silly names
assigned to alien creatures and worlds. The cure is simple: Add a dose of
humor, because it’s too difficult to swallow as serious. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is about as goofy as they come, but it shows far more wit
than Lucas could imagine. It’s too bad there aren’t more good
ones of its ilk. The blending of sci-fi and comedy is a risky undertaking,
and more often than not it fails. Sometimes the result is a disaster of
astronomical proportions. Howard the Duck (1986) and The Adventures of
Pluto Nash (2002) are among Hollywood’s
most legendary bombs. Despite the inherent silliness of the genre,
filmmakers generally try to play it straight. Woody Allen’s Sleeper (1973) and Mel
Brooks’ Spaceballs (1987) are rare examples of successful science-fiction comedies,
but their makers are both skilled comedy writers. Most other efforts have
been numbingly unfunny. Hitchhiker is another rare example of one that works, although
general audiences may not appreciate its Monty Python-esque brand of humor.
Humor in sci-fi works best if it’s approached
in a darker and more satirical manner. If the audience doesn’t
realize that it’s watching a comedy, we have a winner. Terry Gilliam
also has a strong background in comedy. He was the animator and a player on Monty Python’s Flying Circus,
but his elevation to world-class director could not have been predicted.
Gilliam’s Brazil (1985) is a dementedly funny satire of George Orwell’s
1984 with a bit of Franz Kafka thrown in, and it manages to be darker than
both overly somber straight film versions. Jonathan Pryce stars as a
government bureaucrat who is hunted down as a terrorist after trying to
correct a typo. Gilliam’s retro vision of a fascistic future may be
too prophetic for comfort, though.
Starship Troopers (1997)
also has more relevance today with its frighteningly dead-on depiction of
American imperialism and war-mongering. Earth’s war against a planet
of giant bugs is made clear to have been caused by Earth’s
interference in their homeland, and it would seem that a nation at war
often views the enemy as mere bugs. Starship
Troopers is not only one of the most
spectacular and exciting outer-space adventures but also one of the most
misunderstood. Director Paul Verhoeven clearly intended the film to be a
satire of nationalism and propaganda, but his purpose flew right over the
heads of many in the audience. Watch an old 1940s war movie and then watch Starship Troopers again.
You’ll see what I mean. For now, take in Hitchhiker as a little preventive
medicine for that upcoming Sith bug that will be going around soon.
DVDs scheduled for release Tuesday (May 17):Kinsey, Team America: World Police, White Noise, Son of the Mask, and The Sea Inside.
This article appears in May 12-18, 2005.
