Monkey Man: Film Review
Dev Patel gave his blood, sweat and tears (and broken bones!) making Monkey Man, which he co-wrote, produced, directed and starred in, and I’m pleased to report that the hardship was worth it.
Inspired by the legend of the Hindu monkey god Hanuman, this gritty revenge thriller follows Patel’s underground fighter Kid as he embarks on a quest for vengeance against those who killed his mother.
It’s a simple and familiar revenge flick but Monkey Man feels refreshing and different because Patel infuses it with Indian culture and the legends he heard growing up and because he’s the star. We never get to see men who look like Patel in roles like this so hats off to him for making this happen and proving he can lead an action film.
And what an action star he is – Kid is lethal and brutal, with huge biceps, rock-hard abs and nerves of steel. Patel physically nails the intense fight scenes – John Wick eat your heart out – while giving Kid the emotional layer of someone who has been through too much and has had enough.
I was so impressed by Patel directing and starring in a film as full-on as this. Who picks a physically arduous film for their directorial debut?! That is a huge undertaking. Monkey Man must have been an insane amount of work and it is a staggering achievement that he pulled it off so well.
The concept might be unoriginal and the writing might not be the strongest, but its brilliance lies in the execution. The hand-to-hand combat is exciting, the soundtrack is awesome, and there are plenty of creative stunts and gruesome kills, particularly in the final 15-20 minutes, when it all comes together in a spectacular showdown on Diwali.
Admittedly, I did struggle to follow some of the action as it felt a bit chaotic and haphazard but perhaps that was the point. I also found my attention lagging in the middle, although I really liked that Kid found refuge in a community of transgender people.
Get Out director Jordan Peele saw Monkey Man and got Universal to acquire it from Netflix because he felt like it deserved the theatrical experience. He was absolutely right – this dirty, grimy, visceral thriller needs to be seen on the big screen. It works really well with a crowd, particularly when everyone reacts to the nasty bits.
Monkey Man is an exciting time at the movies. Patel absolutely deserves this to be a huge success.
In cinemas from Friday 5th April