Hungry: It Loves to Feed Its Face

The “American Hippo Bill” was a perfect example of governmental over-reaction. To counter a supposed “meat shortage,” Rep. Robert Broussard (D-LA) authored legislation to introduce African hippos into the Louisiana bayous. Apparently, TR thought it was a bully idea, probably out of nostalgia for his safari days. In real life, Broussard’s scheme went nowhere because it was a ridiculous idea. In this movie, someone actually tried it. Consequently, there is at least one big angry pachyderm roaming around the Pelican State swamps in director-screenwriter James Nunn’s Hungry, vaguely inspired by the table-top game, which releases tomorrow on VOD.

Sistine was just fired during her vacation by the kind of demanding boss that can only exist these days in the movies. Any Millennial except Sistine would be complaining to HR and lawyering up, but Nunn wants to establish the victim status she will have to rise above to survive. Regardless, her bestie, Hannah booked them a swamp tour to watch gators, so they might as well enjoy it.

Back in reality, these tours can be fun. Unfortunately, Dionne, an obnoxious business traveler killing time before her red eye, tips their guide, Rodrigo, to show them the biggest gator in the swamp. Ill-advisedly, he follows the big guy’s GPS tag way beyond safe limits. Eventually, they find him all munched-up and dead. Obviously, anything big enough to chew up a 12-foot alligator will easily capsize their boat, leaving them in a world of hurt. Of course, Rodrigo’s cheapskate Portuguese boss, Walker, never overspent on safety precautions, but being a skilled hunter, he is probably sill their best hope, especially since they are fresh out of giant marbles to feed it.

Broussard’s Hippo Bill is a historical fact, so the film is built on a tiny kernel of truth. Nunn also deserves credit for his somewhat daring choice for the least sympathetic swamp tourist, undeniably Dionne—and the most virtuous, who would arguably be Tim, a retired FDNY fireman.

Yet, probably the film’s biggest ace is grizzled Joaquim de Almeida (from Fast Five and Desperado) as crusty old Walker. He should be able to stop a charging hippopotamus dead in its tracks with a steely death stare. Indeed, de Almeida immediately lends the film roguish charisma and credibility. Jim Meskimen (a supporting player in multiple Ron Howard films) also adds emotional heft as Tim.

The rest of the cast is sufficiently adequate for a movie like this, but the in-large-part-CGI hippo is just okay, which isn’t so great. Still, the prolific Nunn keeps it moving along at healthy pace. Hopefully, he will have a third “shot” coming soon in his One Shot, One More Shot series. Nevertheless, Angry is entertainingly exploitative, in an unabashedly lowbrow kind of way. Recommended for fans of the “animals attack” subgenre, Hungry releases tomorrow (6/23) on VOD.