A Spoiler-Free Guy’s Guide To The Hunger Games

hunger-games-guys-guide

It’s the most highly anticipated movie of Spring Break. It’s broken ticket sale records, book sale records, and many a guy’s heart (when they realize that Katniss Everdeen is, in fact, fictional).

Here are the answers to some questions you may have about The Hunger Games, written for guys, by a girl:

“Where did this all come from?” It’s based on a Young Adult dystopian novel (also called The Hunger Games) written in 2009 by Suzanne Collins. When adults started stealing their children’s books and refusing to give them back, the movie world took notice. The story mixes reality tv with a gladiator-style fight-to-the-death involving 24 children between the ages of 12 and 18.

Pretty awesome, huh?

“So that’s the book. What about the movie?” It’s produced by Lionsgate, directed by Gary Ross (best known for Seabiscuit) and co-written by Gary Ross and Suzanne Collins (that’s right! The author of the book!).

“Who is that hot girl?” It is Katniss Everdeen (played by Jennifer Lawrence) and she is our bold heroine. As you have probably guessed from my brief description and the movie trailer, she volunteers to take her little sister’s place in the Hunger Games and happens to be pretty handy with a bow-and-arrow.

“So I’m supposed to watch a movie about a girl?” Don’t worry - there’s a guy, too - the blonde guy you’ve seen is named Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) and he is also competing. Against Katniss. You see, there can only be one winner. So even though they’re from the same place, they can’t both win.

“I heard that Woody Harrellson is in this….?” Woody Harrellson plays Haymitch, Katniss and Peeta’s drunken coach. ”Drunk?” you say? “How are they going to win with a drunk coach?!” Don’t forget - “they” can’t win at all. Only one can win.

“What is Lenny Kravitz doing in this movie?” He’s playing Cinna, Katniss’s stylist (all good heroines need a stylist, after all). His casting was kind of a surprise, as Cinna is described differently in the book, but I’m willing to give him a chance at this quietly subversive character.

“I don’t think I want to see a movie about a girl who has a stylist.” Well, let me remind you that this girl is a crack shot with a bow-and-arrow and is competing for her life in a fight to the death. Mind changed yet? It’d better be.

“Is this movie worth seeing at midnight?” Heck yes! But get your tickets now! It may already be sold out. It should be a great atmosphere - college students, a few high school students, and the occasional boring grown-up (like me). I predict about a trillion mockingjay pins and at least five girls with long braids.

May the odds be ever in your favor!

About The Author
Laura Brautigam Anderson
Laura Brautigam Anderson
Laura is an author, wife, actress, and mother. She's also married to our Creative Director Eric.

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