The Hippopotamus (2017)

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 (based on the novel by), Blanche McIntyre

Stars:

Roger Allam, Tim Charles, Rod Glenn

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Roger Allam	...	Ted Wallace
Tim Charles	...	Saturninus
Rod Glenn	...	Bassianus
Amanda Holt	...	Beatrice Quiet
Amy Marchant	...	Nancy Chunkle
Adrian Bouchet	...	Marcus Andronicus
Simon Markey	...	Ally Pecher
Claire Lacey	...	Anita Hare
Andrew Alexander	...	Matthew Lake
Russell Tovey	...	Rupert Keynes
Paul Bown	...	Roddy (as Paul Brown)
Emily Berrington	...	Jane Swann
Dean Ridge	...	Simon Logan
Thaila Zucchi	...	Mrs. Vance
Fiona Shaw	...	Anne Logan

Storyline

A country manor mystery that's actually a deliciously wicked comedy of manners, The Hippopotamus is a rollicking adaptation of the best-selling novel by Stephen Fry. It centers on a lapsed poet, failed drama critic, redundant husband and hard-working drunk, Ted Wallace (the mellifluously voiced Roger Allam in a rare starring role). Fired from his newspaper job, Ted leaps at the chance to drown his sorrows at his old friend's country estate, Swafford Hall. A series of spiritual healings have recently put the household in a tizzy. The purported miracle worker is his hosts' teenage son, Ted's godson, David (Tommy Knight). Lord and Lady Logan are set on sharing their boy's "gift" with the world, blissfully unaware that his "laying on of hands" trick involves, well, an emphasis on "laying." At odds with a colorful party of fellow guests only too ready to swallow anything they're told, Ted sets out to prove the miracles are a hoax and save the young man from a lifetime of embarrassment.

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Plot Keywords:

disgrace | manor | investigation | old friend | miracle | 

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Taglines:

A beast of a comedy.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 August 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

A víziló

Filming Locations:

West Wycombe House, West Wycombe Park, West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Electric Shadow Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39:1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie contains three Game of Thrones (2011) cast members, including Roger Allam, Tim McInnerny and Sebastian Croft.

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Quotes

Ted Wallace: Feeling like twelve types of dick, I was suddenly struck by an image of David sprouting wings and flying away. Certainly that would be a miracle worth investigating.

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Soundtracks

Tasty Numbness
Written by Antonio Sanchez and Dario Boente(I)
Performed by Antonio Sanchez and Dario Boente (I)
Piano by Dario Boente
© Published by Greedy Silence Music* & Dario Boente Music (ASCAP)
-Administered by Kobalt Music Publishing Limited

User Reviews

So disappointing

Was expecting so much better from R.Allam. His talent totally wasted on this putrefying portrayal of garbage. There is simply no rational need to offer "entertainment" of this caliber. If there is any motivation to try to influence an audience to accept nausea-inducing torridness along with cynicism about spiritual gifts it's failed miserably. Fry is allowing himself to be used by forces he doesn't understand.