Monkey Man slices and dices its way to the big screen
I will begin my review by stating that I am perplexed by Monkey Man’s poor box office returns. Sadly, a new trend in society has emerged. The ability to coexist has been replaced by organized hate, while cancel culture surrounds us and bullying remains hidden behind usernames. Which leads me to wonder: How do these behaviours effect which movies are successful and which fail to resonate with the masses?
Monkey Man feels a bit like John Wick as it follows one man’s journey to get revenge. Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire,) plays double duty as both the protagonist and director of this film. Similar to John Wick there is an event that sends our hero, referred to as the Kid, on a vengeful path. There is a lot to enjoy in this film. Firstly, Monkey Man is laid out in three distinct portions as it moves from revenge to healing and back to revenge. In the first part we see the Kid struggling to execute his plan. The second part was a bit foreign to me as it heavily intertwined elements of Hindu mythology with the hijra community. While the scenes in the monastery are unexpected for this genre, I found myself liking them the most. Unlike storytelling in most North American features, Monkey Man approaches strength and courage against corruption in a manner that is yet to be exploited and that is what makes it so special.
The third part of Monkey Man is where the film truly hits its stride. I have yet to speak about why the Kid is seeking revenge and that is because it is very emotional. There is no cute puppy but instead a moment that is painful to watch. Consequently, after seeing the catalyst for Kid’s brutality I wouldn’t have minded a bit more butt kicking on his behalf. I love a great action film and when executed perfectly the fighting takes on an almost balletic rhythm. The structure of the fighting in Monkey Man feels crisp. Firstly, guns have been replaced with knives thus allowing a whole lot of wild hacking to happen. Secondly, Patel keeps the shots very close which allows for some hand and leg movements to be visible while others hidden, thus amping up each blow. As a viewer you feel as if you’re right beside the Kid, constrained and fighting. Each movement is imperfect, quick and effective. Moreover, the transformation physically of the Kid is inspiring. In his tailored black suit, the tall and handsome Patel is not just an Indian facsimile of John Wick, he could be John Wick.
When I was in Grade 6 we read a poem about how Canada was a cultural mosaic and the United States was an “unpleasant” melting pot. What happened to that optimistic state of mind where as Canadians we were eager to mix and learn with each other. It’s not a stretch to believe that the box office is reflecting a change. While one might say Monkey Man feels “alien” or “too far” removed, I would vehemently argue that regardless of background we can all identify as being the underdog and having to rise up.