Chimp Crazy – Review | Max

CHIMP CRAZY is a crazy HBO documentary series on Max by the Tiger King filmmaker. It’s in four parts and this time, it’s about people keeping chimps. And yes, there will be blood. Read our full Chimp Crazy docuseries review here!

CHIMP CRAZY on Max is a new HBO documentary series. It comes from the Tiger King filmmaker, so you know to expect a certain level of craziness. For this four-part documentary series, the word “crazy” is even in the title. Accurately so!

As also revealed by the title, we’ve moved from the big cats to the great apes. Specifically chimpanzees. Stories about people keeping chimps and it resulting in disaster are infamous. And yes, we do come across the most well-known.

Continue reading our full Chimp Crazy docuseries review below. Episode 1 premieres on Max on August 18, 2024.

Tonka, Tonia and PETA

In Chimp Crazy, the main focus is on the former nurse-turned-exotic animal broker Tonia Haddix. She calls herself the “Dolly Parton of chimps” and it’s easy to see why. However, I would dare to say that Dolly would never wear any of Tonia’s wigs.

In what appears to be an earnest attempt at giving a balanced portrait of Tonia Haddix, we see her doing all she can to care for animals in captivity. Of course, that “care” includes feeding them a lot of junk food alongside sugary and caffeinated drinks.

Anyone can tell that this is not the right diet for a chimp. Let alone a human being. She refers to the chimps as “my kids” or “the kids”. However, I cannot imagine anyone giving their kids the same diet non-stop.

The animal rights group PETA wants to take the chimps away to a sanctuary for many reasons – the so-called care being a main one. Instead of being in small caged enclosures, PETA wants to take the chimps to a place where they can run free and be chimps.

However, Tonia’s limitless love for one chimpanzee, in particular, makes for many wild twists and turns. His name is Tonka and he used to be in movies, so chances are good that you’ve seen him before.

Of course, he was younger then and is an adult now. But still a sweetheart.

Funny and tragic – often both

While Chimp Crazy focuses on Tonia Haddix, Tonka, and PETA, the docuseries also covers other stories of people keeping chimps as pets. It’s done to expose the risks any human takes when attempting to include a wild animal like a chimpanzee into their family.

Also, there is a clear focus on the welfare of the animal. Humans may believe they are doing right by their chimps by loving them, but it’s hardly the right life for a chimpanzee. And yes, this is why there are those tragic and brutal cases where chimps attack humans.

We cover two different cases where the chimpanzees turned on humans in their lives. And were shot down to stop them. It is heartbreaking and could have been avoided, which is what PETA is focusing on.

As the events of Chimp Crazy evolve and take some wild turns. I won’t do spoilers here, and you should avoid them to experience it all as it happens. It’s funny, sad, tragic, and everything in between. Often at the same time.

Start watching Chimp Crazy on Max

This HBO Original four-part documentary series is produced and directed by filmmaker Eric Goode (Tiger King). However, he isn’t officially directing this as people with exotic animals know to avoid him now.

Instead, there’s a proxy director trusted by people in the exotic animals trade. It’s brilliant and works like a charm. Especially as everyone (Tonia Haddix especially) is so focused on PETA being the enemy that her guard is down to most other people.

Ultimately, this docuseries almost plays out like a suspense thriller when the 32-year-old chimp Tonka goes missing. This happens when Tonia is met with a lawsuit by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

Her reaction results in a years-long courtroom drama. One that ends up involving her (human) family members, authorities, an undercover clown, and actor Alan Cumming. The latter starred alongside Tonka in the 1997 film Buddy and now works with PETA.

Do not miss out on this new HBO documentary series. Especially if you found Tiger King fascinating and care for animals in general.

Chimp Crazy debuts with episode 1 on HBO and Max on August 18, 2024. New episodes will debut on subsequent Sundays with the fourth and final episode coming out on September 8, 2024.