Monkey Man – A Movie Review

Dev Patel is an interesting actor to me, especially after his role in The Green Knight. Of course, Jordan Peele makes everything he does fascinating as well. When I learned Patel wrote his directorial debut, Monkey Man, and that Peele produced it, I figured it was worth a watch.

Monkey Man most definitely had a style, but I’m afraid it lacked a bit in terms of substance. There wasn’t quite as much action as I expected, nor was there all that much story. What little story did exist has been done before many, many times in one way or another.

Patel plays the lead character earning money by participating in underground fights while wearing a realistic looking monkey mask. We learn he is searching for an opportunity to become a trusted member of a criminal organization so that he can make his way to the top and take revenge on those who did him wrong as a child. We never quite learn what he did between his time as a child and adulthood, nor do we learn how he came to be such a good fighter and well versed in both knives and guns. Though set in India, the story itself is fairly routine.

Patel’s most distinguishing characteristic as a director came dangerously close to his most problematic. This film cuts every other second refuses to be still. Between the shakey cam and the relentless cuts, I sometimes couldn’t even tell what was happening.

While not all that entertaining or original, I enjoyed seeing Patel give directing a shot. He had some interesting angles and ideas, which makes me feel confident that he will find his footing behind the camera.

That being said, I do not recommend Monkey Man.