Any mechanism can bind if misaligned. Simply, if the applied force in the catch area exceeds the amount of applied force nessesary to make the mechanism operate, it will not release.

If you have to attempt to go at it from inside as far as losening the latch, your arms will look like the cat won the fight.

In addition to Jim's 3 hand opening, try this. While pulling the latch, apply firm pressure on the hood, and give the hood a healthy b!tch slap the in the latch area. Also a fist blow from the heel of the hand, instead of a slap, may do the trick.

(Disclaimer! If a hood gets dented from a too hard of a fist blow, it's not my fault that God created idiots.)