Chimp Crazy, Eric Goode’s four-hour documentary, doesn’t beat around the bush when it comes to its premise- the negative effects of private chimpanzee ownership. The biographical film, much more articulate in its ideas than Goode's Tiger King, argues that domestic ownership of chimpanzees is harmful and should be federally regulated for the safety of both the chimpanzees and their owners.
The film focuses on Tonia Haddix, a middle-aged animal broker and full-time caretaker of a horde of chimpanzees in Missouri, an unrestricted land of exotic animal ownership. As explored in the documentary, Haddix and her chimpanzees, including the famed Hallmark model-chimp Connor, exemplify the potential hazards and challenges of this unregulated practice.
Unlike the flamboyant characters and drama of Tiger King, Chimp Crazy is predominantly a contemplative exploration filled with intense, stark realities. Despite featuring some eccentric individuals, it doesn't have the narrative thrust to maintain viewers' interest over four hours or warrant subsequent installments.
Addressing the issue of chimpanzee ownership, the documentary intertwines accounts of previous owners whose experiences ended in bloody disasters. Interlacing these secondary narratives with the primary story of Tonia, serves to highlight the imminent danger and uncertainty that she dismisses due to her passion for her ape companions.
Haddix's case reveals the extreme anthropomorphization of chimpanzees by their owners, who perceive them as never-maturing children, introducing a deep-seated problem. However, such behavior isn't entirely condemned as it arises from an identifiable human need to care and be cared for.
Importantly, Chimp Crazy offers an ethical dialogue on the responsibility of documentarians towards their subjects, especially when their actions may result in ridiculing participants or leading them into legal trouble. This ethical boundary is continually tested as tension heightens between Haddix and the animal rights organization PETA, throughout the documentary.
Unlike Tiger King’s lack of empathy, Chimp Crazy tries to understand Tonia’s intense need to nurture. Yet, the challenge lies in distinguishing between genuine empathy, condescending sympathy, or plain touristic pity. Regardless, the documentary marks a vital progression from Goode’s previous mocking approach in Tiger King.
Over the course of four hours, Chimp Crazy, while probing the controversial world of private chimpanzee ownership, encourages viewers to evaluate the implications of these relationships critically. It hints at the lethal latencies of ownership, unveiling the ongoing animal rights debate, and challenges viewers to understand the subjects’ varying perspectives on the rather unusual pursuit.
