The number 42 is an important figure in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy as the initial - and unfulfilling - answer to the question of the meaning of life. I think I can make more sense of it, so here are 42 reasons to stick out your thumb and make your way to the theater:

1. There's this really popular book by Douglas Adams of the same name. You might have heard about it; it was in written up in all the papers.

2. No, I never read the book. But if there's an adaptation of "Ribsy" or "Blubber," I'm all over it.

3. Protagonist Arthur from Cornwall spends the entire time in his pajamas and robe.

4. The brilliance of British comedic timing and offbeat wisecracks.

5. Anyone who has read the book will be the one(s) giggling when no one else is, or I was in the theater during a retreat of the Marijuana Smokers Anonymous convention.

6. If a girl asks you to go to Madagascar with her, and she's adorable, you say yes.

7. Speaking of, Zooey Deschanel (Almost Famous) shows off her legs.

8. Songs by dolphins.

9. "Lie back, don't be annoyed, your planet's about to be destroyed."

10. The, um, depth and romance of Vogon poetry. Yeah, that's the ticket. Besides, it's only the third worst in the universe.

11. If you liked Galaxy Quest, you'll like the similar style and look.

	Hey baby, you wanna see our spaceship, if you know what I mean, and I think you do?

12. Sam Rockwell is as flaky as Anna Nicole Smith (although he dresses more like Steve Tyler).

13. He's so stupid he's president of the galaxy.

14. The special effects are nifty when the movie wants them to be, and cheesy when the script calls for it.

15. It's like the aliens and planets from "Star Trek: The Original Series" mixed with Men in Black and a touch of the Cantina scene from Star Wars.

16. Bill Nighy, the eccentric aging rocker from Love Actually, is in it.

17. His character's name is Slartibartfast.

18. Just because there's an Ultimate Question doesn't necessarily mean there's an Ultimate Answer.

19. And no, sausage and sex aren't the answers, unless of course you're asking a different question about what is wicked awesome in the universe.

20. When the earth is blown up and silence follows (including the audience), a little kid a few rows back says plainly for everyone to hear, "What?" Audience cracks up.

21. Does it matter what kind of towel I bring along? Are the basics from Bed Bath & Beyond okay? Or should I splurge for Egyptian cotton?

22. The main actor, Martin Freeman, is in BBC's "The Office," which my sisters love, so that's cool.

23. John Malkovich is a sinister mutant bad guy.

24. He leads a religion where blowing your nose is considered a blessing.

25. Director Garth Jennings' previous work was an R.E.M. video.

26. He also did the "Best of Blur," and I have no idea what that is and why there's a best-of.

27. The doors on the ship make happy sighs when opening and closing.

28. Similarly, the computer is really upbeat about the situation even when certain death approaches.

29. The movie has several bits and pieces, so I'm hoping the DVD will be an extended version to fill in some exposition and character-building.

30. Sure, I can see what the Point-of-View gun is trying to do, but I'm not sure **zap** I mean, it's completely understandable that women would need to design such a device.

31. Clear your mind on Vogon, Ghostbusters style, lest you get swatted on the face.

32. The Infinite Probability Drive turns people into couches and yarn and whatnot when jumping across the galaxy.

33. Helen Mirren takes part just as the voice of a millions-year-old super computer.

34. The pocket-sized computer book, "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," looks like an expensive Microsoft pad, except without the crashing and rebooting.

35. Alan Rickman voices a manic depressive robot named Marvin.

36. The studio didn't try to Hollywood-ize the movie with too much action or cutting down the quirks.

37. Rapper Mos Def is like a "Lonely Planet" writer taking advantage of local drink before leaving.

38. Hey, if Mr. Def is good enough to be on "Chapelle's Show," he's good enough to be in this, too.

39. Fitting inside Marvin, Warwick Davis adds to his impressive pedigree of being the height-challenged actor squeezing into heavy costumes and is thus never seen (like the Ewok in Return of the Jedi).

40. At only an hour and 40 minutes, the galaxy is just a short trip.

41. Tasteful nudity.

42. (Okay, not really. Just trying to stretch this to 42.)