·DIRECTOR:
  Rick Mueller
 
·PRODUCER:
  Joel Greengrass
 
·COUNTRY:
  USA (2002)
 
·LANGUAGE:
  english
 
·RUNTIME:
  77 min

·The Other Cinema, 1st Feb, 16.00pm

This film explores the details of Adams' life in a warm, funny, loving way. Life is sentimental but never mushy and, while an obvious tribute to the man, it never becomes an insipid eulogy.

This is a realistic look at a the man from those who knew him best. Interviews with Adams' early teachers and comedy partners and friends, including Mary Allen, Terry Jones, and Berkeley Breathed and sister Jane Garnier, are interspersed with previously filmed interviews with Douglas Adams himself, as well as film clips of Adams giving lectures... and even video of Adams on vacation.

Wonderful pop-up style factoids appear onscreen at opportune moments, and a Babelfish translates British English for clueless Americans.

Neil Gaiman is a the choice as narrator of Life, the Universe, and Douglas Adams . The best documentaries are often ruined by dry, dull narration but there is no hint of that here. Gaiman is as warm and funny as the subject of the movie is and his voice draws the viewer instantly into the film.