So many films in the era of streaming have been relegated to the level of “content,” so it is incredibly exciting to see when a movie once set for streaming is “rescued” for a theatrical release. Filmmaker Jordan Peele saw the new action thriller Monkey Man, the directorial debut of actor Dev Patel, boarding it as a producer and pushing it for a theatrical release. And it’s good that he did, as the fight scenes in this film are top-notch, carrying it through its narrative shortcomings.
Monkey Man tells the story of an impassioned man who decides to take revenge decades after the murder of his mother and destruction of his village by corrupt government officials. Story-wise, this is a relatively straightforward revenge thriller, hitting many of the same beats that virtually every movie in the genre adheres to. However, Patel brings such a vibrant vision to his directorial debut, with a clear passion and command for the craft, that it feels unique even when it isn’t.
The action in Monkey Man — when there is action, at least — is pretty awesome. There are two large action sequences and a handful of smaller ones throughout. Definitely don’t go into this expecting a John Wick-style shoot-‘em-up with nonstop carnage. Patel (and his co-writers Paul Angunawela and John Collee) are more interested in the character aspects of this revenge story.
Monkey Man is slow, but shines in its action sequences
This approach is held back a bit by the structure of the story. The protagonist’s backstory is made clear early in the film, and it is hammered in with a flashback later that expands upon a tragedy in his childhood. Although this is undeniably compelling from an emotional standpoint, it’s also relatively straightforward and has been done dozens of times before.
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Patel keeps things refreshing with commentary on themes that are highly specific to his culture. From using the Hindu religious symbolism of the Hanuman to the exploration of the Indian caste system, there’s a lot more on the mind of Monkey Man than your average action movie. However, this can also lead the movie to feel overstuffed at times, especially when it comes to the more overtly political aspects.
In terms of movies that star their writer-director, Patel’s debut feels refreshingly vanity-free. This is especially surprising considering that no one else in the cast has even remotely the same amount of screen time as Patel. A few of the actors in the supporting cast are really solid, like Pitobash, who plays the comedic relief, but few have an especially pronounced role.
Monkey Man heralds Patel as the great new action star, though. Although the actor has been in “action” films before, he’s never been the straight-up bada*s he is here. Patel also brings his usual level of charisma to the role, immediately winning the audience over to his side. He nails both the physicality and personality demanded by a role like this.
Monkey Man is a promising debut for Dev Patel as a director, and an essential reminder that we need to see him in more starring roles. Although the writing does leave something to be desired, the strong direction, incredible action sequences, and yet another incredible performance from patel makes the film stand out above much of the rest of modern action cinema.
Monkey Man is screening at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival, which runs March 8-16 in Austin, TX.
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