Monkey Man is a marvelous showcase of all Dev Patel has to offer. Patel, who wrote, directed, produced, and stars in the movie, is all enthusiasm in a film that when it’s great, nails the references to Bollywood, Korean action films, Bruce Lee, and many others. When the movie delves into serious topics, however, Patel’s inexperience as a screenwriter seems to play against him in a script that falters when it comes to the political subtext.
I cannot pretend to be an expert when it comes to the subject. An extensive research spiral after the movie and general knowledge before does not make me one. There are certainly much more knowledgeable critics who can speak to what Patel was trying to convey. But even from my limited perspective, it’s clear that whatever Patel was trying to do…it did not land. The problem feels two-fold. It’s partly that there doesn’t seem to be a clear idea behind what Patel is trying to say. (Almost as if he or some part of the production process was afraid of actually articulating an idea). But it’s also that the script doesn’t seem to trust the viewers with the idea it’s trying to convey.
The filmmaker shoves unnecessary flashbacks into the film, interrupting perfectly crafted action sequences. These long setup scenes seem desperate to justify the action’s brutality as if the audience can’t grasp its intensity without excessive exposition. Isn’t there an entire action movie franchise built on the simple fact that someone killed John Wick’s dog?
Monkey Man never names its main character, a man who wears a gorilla mask and participates in illegal underground fights, earning extra cash if he bleeds. Instead, we learn everything we need to know about him through way too many flashbacks and Patel’s very expressive eyes. We didn’t need all the flashbacks or all that much dialogue. Patel is a good enough actor — we knew that much already — to convey a world of pain with his body alone.
And this is a movie that requires him to, a brutal action film that goes way beyond the type of sequences we usually see in mainstream Hollywood movies. The stories of Patel breaking a few bones make perfect sense while watching Monkey Man. It feels impossible not to, considering the level of action we’re watching. That, and the mystery surrounding the main character, make for a powerful combination.
Despite feeling bloated at times, there’s enough potential in Monkey Man not just for a sequel, but an entire franchise. Strip the movie of the muddled political undertones, and there’s probably a franchise to be found there, with Patel at its center — not just as the main actor, either. Most fans of the genre would be happy to see Patel return to this role, even if only to find out if the ‘Kid’ has a name, or more of a story than what we’ve gotten to see so far.
Monkey Man is in theaters now.
First Featured Image | Official Poster Credit: ©Universal Pictures