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It might have been hip to be a fan of this series back in 1981, but it hasn't aged well. There's so much wrong, it's hard to know where to start.

How about the plot? First episode actually starts well, mild-mannered Arthur Dent is understandably shocked when his friend Ford Prefect reveals he's an alien, and the Earth is about to be destroyed to make way for an intergalactic highway bypass. There's some suspense, then it actually happens. It's a bold way to begin a sci-fi series. Then the pair escape into space, and the plot grinds to a crawl, meandering around. Very little makes any sense. Arthur and Ford hitch a ride on a Vogon ship, then are ejected into open space, but saved by another passing space ship. Here they meet the two-headed Zaphod Beebelbrox and his assistant, an Earth girl named Trillian. By amazing coincidence, they've all met before. Zaphod is supposed to be some suave, debonair adventurer and thief. Instead he's just a shallow goof. The group have various adventures until it all ends abruptly after six episodes.

Characters are poorly written with little development. About 90 percent of Arthur Dent's dialogue is asking questions with an astonished expression: "The Earth? Mice? Mice?", and so on. Ford acts cool and nonchalant in every situation, as if this happens to him daily. Very little is explained clearly. We do know that aliens are interested in Dent's brain, which may hold the secret to the question of life, the universe, and everything. Since we learn that Earth was built as a giant computer to determine this, the last Earthling could be the key. But isn't Trillian also from Earth? Plot holes like this are ignored.

Things happen randomly, just to transport the group to another scene. An explosion doesn't kill them, just throws them forward in time to a restaurant where you can dine and witness the end of the universe. This is all intended to be comedy and satire, but there's not much laughs or insight here. The humor is very dry and absurd in Monty-Ptyhonesque style, but not nearly as funny. Everyone we see has odd character quirks, like a robot assistant with depression. Isn't it hilarious? There's no comic payoff to this, or anything. Many plot points are setup and forgotten. Ford tells Arthur to always carry a towel when in space. And then what?

Even the Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy is barely mentioned after the second episode. It appears in short animated segments to provide exposition, nothing more.

By the last episode, the foursome teleport off a stolen spaceship, and Zaphod and Trillian vanish from the story without explanation. Arthur and Ford go back in time and space to prehistoric Earth, where they learn history will just repeat itself. The pair shrug and walk off together, with nothing resolved.

I know, some will say this is all expanded on in Douglas Adams' books this series is based on. But you shouldn't have to read a stack of novels to make sense of a tv show, it should stand on it's own. There's also an atheistic and nihilistic streak throughout the show. Adams was an atheist, so this is unsurprising. The overall message I got was that it's all pointless.

Maybe a few more episodes could have filled in the gaps. As it stands, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is just a dreary disappointment.

Nerdy Tony Thompson, or T.T. (Dennis Christopher) steps off the bus from Chicago at Avila Beach, partly to honor his deceased brother's memory, but also to dive into the beach and surfing lifestyle he's romanticized.

T.T. soon meets Duke (Seymour Cassel), the middle-aged owner of the local beach bar. Duke offers him a spare room to stay in, and becomes a mentor of sorts to help T.T. assimilate. He finds himself navigating through a large assortment of characters, each with their own lives and problems. Stephanie (Tanya Roberts) struggles to keep surfer Rick (John Calvin) faithful long enough to join her on an extended Hawaii vacation. Tenner (John Fain) hopes to win the big surf contest and prize money, get married and settle down. Duke tries to win back his ex-wife Fay (Dorothy Tristan), sell the bar and retire to Hawaii. In a bit of comic relief, mechanic Earl (Ned Wynn, also the screenwriter), bets a local playboy he can live in his Pontiac for the summer to win a classic Corvette. Meanwhile, T.T. takes an interest in Duke's virginal daughter Corky (Glynnis O'Connor). Although T.T. is the main focus, this is a busy film with multiple sub-plots. Wynn's screenplay deftly handles this by devoting time for each character to develop enough for you to care. There are surfing scenes, but they're more of a backdrop to the character drama.

American International Pictures created the beach movie sub-genre in 1963 with Beach Party, so it's fitting that they produced California Dreaming, essentially a deconstruction of beach movies. California Dreaming starts as a typical beach flick, with a light comedic tone, but quickly shifts into drama with some downbeat notes. Realistically, not everthing works out, and nearly every character ends in a worse place than they start. Relationships end, and dreams are dashed. One character pays a heavy price for trying to hang on to their youth for too long. Some achieve their goals, but it's bittersweet with a loss attached.

Much credit goes to Ned Wynn's sharp and naturalistic dialogue. Acting and direction are excellent, with Christopher and Cassel making the most of their scenes. Dont miss out on the soundtrack, consisting of mostly original music, including two songs by Burton Cummings of the Guess Who, and a great cover of California Dreaming by America.

Odd and obscure teen movie. Ambitious senior Christine (Lee Purcell) is running unopposed for student body president after getting her rival suspended. Her ex Bobby (Bruno Kirby), rushes to find an 11th hour replacement. He enlists Darryl (John Friedrich), an unknown but likable candidate. Dirty tricks ensue on both sides as the election nears.

Almost Summer is almost completely forgotten for good reason. The premise is simply dull, and while other teen movies from this era like Malibu Beach and Van Nuys Blvd are more lighthearted, Almost Summer takes a more serious, soap-opera tone. Whoever said this was a comedy must have seen a different movie, there isn't one laugh in it. There is a food fight scene, but it seems perfunctory, as if the producers were checking it off their list.

The acting and dialogue is competent, but the actors are nearly all well into their twenties, and play it all too serious. Bruno Kirby glares and shouts at everyone, acting like a fixer for the mob, while 30 year-old Lee Purcell wears the dress and demeanor of a young attorney, not a teenager.

The main plot line is never resolved, either. Darryl wins the election with his everyman approach, but turns down the office after learning Bobby staged a drug bust earlier to boost his image. His integrity only makes the student body want him as president more. It's assumed by the final scene at the prom that he's accepted the job, but it's never made clear. There are a few other subplots, but they're not worth mentioning. All plot lines are ended abruptly, and everyone gets a partner at the prom.

Recommended only if you're a die-hard Kirby fan, or are trying to watch every last 70s teen flick. Beach Boys fans should seek out the soundtrack, composed mostly by Mike Love's side project group Celebration. The title track was written by Love, Brian Wilson, and Al Jardine, making it nearly a lost Beach Boys song.