PG Score: 7.5/10
Monkey Man was released in theaters on 3/11/24
Dev Patel (Chappie) made his directorial debut and came out swinging. Not every swing was a hit, to keep the analogy going, but he made contact more often than not. Monkey Man is an ode to the downtrodden and what happens when someone fights back against the corrupt in power, who profit from keeping others down. Embracing the culture of this world, Patel tells a chaotic story that has hints of John Wick, but remains its own.
Directorial Flaws
Disjointed is a word that comes to mind when watching this film after taking some time and reflecting on it. Some of the cinematography wasn’t to my liking. Quick cuts and rapid looks at the same scene made for some dizzy viewing. It also hurt some fight scenes when the focus wasn’t entirely on the fight. Perhaps it was a choice, due to Patel breaking his hand and toes while filming, but the choreography just did not gel at times and that slightly impacted some of the movie's more important fights.
Bright Spots
What I greatly enjoyed, along with the underdog story, was the choice of music. The soundtrack brought India to life and there were some banging tunes. A highlight for the movie, indeed. There was humor sprinkled throughout the film, mostly from interactions with Pitobash (Million Dollar Arm) that added much-needed levity and didn’t hurt the overall tone of the story.
Worth the Ticket
At its core, this is just a good old-fashioned revenge film that is a vehicle for Patel to continue showcasing his abilities as a leading man and that he can play a wider range of characters. Strong performance from him. I would say his first-time directing effort, while better than Michael B. Jordan's attempt at Creed III, leave room for improvement. But the signs are good that he will grow into a good one. Solid flick, good action, and an excellent soundtrack make Monkey Man worth seeing on the big screen.