The upcoming Monkey Man created by Dev Patel has created a massive buzz on the internet after being premiered at the SXSW. The fans dubbed the action flick ‘John Wick in India’ for its bold and violently beautiful sequences. While addressing the fans at the SXSW premiere, Patel called out the Hollywood action filmmakers for making “mindless” action flicks.
Monkey Man has been subjected to discussion among fans since its trailer hit the internet. It not only promised us an action film packed with solid visuals and gruesome violence but also a story packed with emotion. Even after being a new experience for Dev Patel, he showed perfection in executing the sequences and flaunted an impressive fresh take on the genre.
Dev Patel on Hollywood action films
In recent years, we have seen a surge in the number of action films in Hollywood. There have been numerous successful franchises in the genre. However, it can not be said that they have successfully maintained their quality over time. While Mission Impossible and John Wick have improved with each part, Fast & Furious and The Expendables have attracted criticism for their recent installments.
After the premiere of Monkey Man at the South by Southwest, Dev Patel called out the Hollywood filmmakers for making mindless and sub-standard action films. According to Variety, the Slumdog Millionaire actor wanted to add realism and a bit of his culture to make the upcoming film more relevant and enjoyable.
“The action genre has been abused by the system. You know, a quick buck. Mindless sh*t. I wanted to give it soul. Real trauma. Real pain. You guys deserve that. I wanted to infuse it with a little bit of culture.”
The Chappie actor said about his directorial debut that he wanted to add more about his Indian culture in the film. Through the film, Patel wanted to comment on the caste system in India.
It is evident from the early reception that Dev Patel pulled off an incredible task in Monkey Man. The upcoming film earned a standing ovation from the audiences at the SWSX. Patel has gone through a painful and arduous process for filming the breathtaking action sequences that promise to make the fans go crazy on the big screens.
How did Monkey Man make it to the theaters from Netflix?
Monkey Man focuses on the story of Dev Patel’s protagonist ‘Kid’, who goes out to exact revenge against a group of corrupt people who killed his mother. The story has different layers and sheds light on several social issues besides the revenge plot. On top of that, the story also boasts a rich cultural touch by incorporating Hindu mythology into the film.
Most action films fail to maintain the balance of emotion and action in them. From the early reviews, it seems Monkey Man has successfully pulled it off. The director of critically acclaimed films, Nope and Get Out, Jordan Peele, also made a key contribution to the film. Earlier, the film was set to release on Netflix before Peele bought the rights and pushed for a theatrical release.
Jordan Peele saw Patel’s directorial debut and was confident that it deserved a big screen experience. The Hotel Mumbai actor admitted that he would always be “grateful” to Peele- “He kind of picked this film up off the floor, dusted it off, and put it back on the mantelpiece.” The fact that the film resembles the boldness of John Wick but also has its unique flavor makes everyone hopeful that the film may become a blockbuster upon hitting the theaters on April 5, 2024.
