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The Hippopotamus

  • 2017
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
4.5K
YOUR RATING
Matthew Modine, Roger Allam, Fiona Shaw, and Emily Berrington in The Hippopotamus (2017)
Disgraced poet Ted Wallace is summoned to his friend's country manor to investigate a series of unexplained miracles.
Play trailer2:25
4 Videos
13 Photos
Dark ComedyComedy

Disgraced poet Ted Wallace is summoned to his friend's country manor to investigate a series of unexplained miracles.Disgraced poet Ted Wallace is summoned to his friend's country manor to investigate a series of unexplained miracles.Disgraced poet Ted Wallace is summoned to his friend's country manor to investigate a series of unexplained miracles.

  • Director
    • John Jencks
  • Writers
    • Stephen Fry
    • Blanche McIntyre
    • Tom Hodgson
  • Stars
    • Roger Allam
    • Tim Charles
    • Rod Glenn
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    4.5K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Jencks
    • Writers
      • Stephen Fry
      • Blanche McIntyre
      • Tom Hodgson
    • Stars
      • Roger Allam
      • Tim Charles
      • Rod Glenn
    • 39User reviews
    • 19Critic reviews
    • 46Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos4

    US Trailer
    Trailer 2:25
    US Trailer
    The Hippopotamus
    Trailer 2:26
    The Hippopotamus
    The Hippopotamus
    Trailer 2:26
    The Hippopotamus
    The Hippopotamus
    Clip 2:55
    The Hippopotamus
    The Hippopotamus
    Clip 2:55
    The Hippopotamus

    Photos13

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    + 7
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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Roger Allam
    Roger Allam
    • Ted Wallace
    Tim Charles
    Tim Charles
    • Saturninus
    Rod Glenn
    Rod Glenn
    • Bassianus
    Amanda Holt
    • Beatrice Quiet
    Amy Marchant
    • Nancy Chunkle
    Adrian Bouchet
    Adrian Bouchet
    • Marcus Andronicus
    Simon Markey
    Simon Markey
    • Ally Pecher
    Claire Lacey
    • Anita Hare
    Andrew Alexander
    • Matthew Lake
    Russell Tovey
    Russell Tovey
    • Rupert Keynes
    Paul Bown
    • Roddy
    • (as Paul Brown)
    Emily Berrington
    Emily Berrington
    • Jane Swann
    Dean Ridge
    Dean Ridge
    • Simon Logan
    Thaila Zucchi
    • Mrs. Vance
    Fiona Shaw
    Fiona Shaw
    • Anne Logan
    Matthew Modine
    Matthew Modine
    • Michael Logan
    Tommy Knight
    Tommy Knight
    • David Logan
    John Standing
    John Standing
    • Podmore
    • Director
      • John Jencks
    • Writers
      • Stephen Fry
      • Blanche McIntyre
      • Tom Hodgson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews39

    6.44.5K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    9PutuNix

    Thoroughly Enjoyed This Movie

    I was worried I might be disappointed by this movie because of the negative reviews, but that worry was ill-founded. I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish and thought it well-found the balance between absurdity, pathos and grit.

    I could hear the literary voice of Stephen Fry throughout, especially in the outpourings of the protagonist. The words sizzled and danced and revealed a certain realistic sensitivity.

    I am not associated in any way with anyone involved in the film.
    6begob

    Horsing around

    A clapped out poet brings his powers of perception to an English country house acclaimed for its miraculous cures, and finds more than he bargained for ...

    Lovely doff of the cap to English detective fiction, although it finds much humour in declining to avert its gaze from the nonsense of the convention. The theme of miracle cures is important, so the one scene of emotion toward the end matters a lot - I didn't feel it, maybe because the moment of death was never addressed thematically. Hey - it's a country estate, built on the deaths of others.

    The pace and humour are good, and the hero is perfectly smashed and detached. The weakness is in the supporting characters - not the performances, but their drama and the necessity of their presence. No great turns or lines, and I guess that's down to the original writing.

    Music and sets are gorgeous, editing keeps it clipping along.

    Overall: Insightful and entertaining, not so dramatic.
    7Sleepin_Dragon

    Worth your time.

    This is a beautifully well made, extraordinary well acted movie. I would argue it's quite a high brow watch, but then you should be expecting that.

    There isn't exactly a plot of sorts, other than someone is hired to solve a series of mysteries, other than that it just seems to be a series of random occurrences.

    The visuals are really nice, great location work, and an incredible setting.

    The characters are larger than life let's say, the best element for me was the acting of the ever wonderful Roger Allam.

    It feels very disjointed in parts, but overall it's definitely worth your time, the dialogue is wonderful at times.

    Worth seeing, 7/10.
    7graceshropshire-32595

    funny-not family friendly

    Not trying to bash Stephen here. Love the guy. Amazing writer. I'm 16 and I recently watched this with my parents and 13 year old brother. 15 rated films are normally at the right level of inappropriate yet comfortable for us all to watch and enjoy together. However, although this film was very funny, the narration was thoroughly entertaining and even the story was clever and engaging, it was just slightly disturbing. My parents checked the parent notes before watching and I have to say, they really didn't prepare us for the endeavour to come. Nevertheless we laughed along and just discussed that parts were not to be spoken about outside our front room. I would say DO NOT WATCH THIS WITH KIDS UNDER 15 OR 16. Also it uses the c word like 3 times just an fyi.
    7garymathe-76173

    Delightful hidden gem

    I could feel Stephen Fry in the leading role, that's how good Roger Allam is. He also carried the movie through the slow beginning. The story is intriguing, fun, sad, and happy, all at the same time. It's a shame I hadn't heard of it until I happened upon it while browsing the free section of Amazon Prime. Well worth a watch, as long as one is not very religious or uptight.

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    Related interests

    Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Sian Clifford in Fleabag (2016)
    Dark Comedy
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Roger Allam and Sir John Standing appeared in V for Vendetta (2005) and Game of Thrones (2011). The former also featured Stephen Fry, who wrote the novel upon which this film was based.
    • Quotes

      Rebecca Logan: My God, look at the state of you.

      Ted Wallace: If you're here, Rebecca, who's ruling over Narnia?

    • Connections
      Referenced in Origins Podcast: Stephen Fry - The Origins Podcast with Lawrence Krauss (2019)
    • Soundtracks
      Tasty Numbness
      Written by Antonio Sanchez and Dario Boente

      Performed by Antonio Sanchez and Dario Boente

      Piano by Dario Boente

      © Published by Greedy Silence Music* & Dario Boente Music (ASCAP)

      -Administered by Kobalt Music Publishing Limited

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    FAQ17

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 1, 2017 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Гіпопотам
    • Filming locations
      • West Wycombe House, West Wycombe Park, West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, UK
    • Production company
      • The Electric Shadow Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $273,588
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 29m(89 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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