Movie Review - Monkey Man

Director: Dev Patel
Genre: Comedy/ Romance
Runtime: 121 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Dev Patel, Sharlto Copely, Pitobash, Sikandir Kher, Sobhita Dhulipala, Ashwini Kalsekar
 
I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 41: A FILM THAT’S PART OF A FILM FESTIVAL’S OFFICIAL SELECTION
 
Description: An anonymous young man (Dev Patel) unleashes a campaign of vengeance against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother and continue to systematically victimize the poor and powerless.

Review: The directorial debut of Dev Patel, who obviously already has a number of gems to his name as an actor, opts for a surprising genre: the action film. Patel hasn’t kicked a lot of ass in his films yet, but if anything becomes clear, it’s that he can do it very well. A film that doesn’t hide its inspiration without becoming a copycat. Incredibly brutal action mixed with plenty of personality and sentiment.

“Monkey Man” follows the story of an anonymous young man sometimes called Kid. In the slums of India, he makes money  with street fights. He gets a job at a loca restaurant, where shady things happen behind the scenes. He is out for revenge on various figures in positions of power who have personally made his life miserable in the past.

The story is simple, yet effective. Its build-up and sufficient sentiment set it apart from other action films. The pace and flow of the film are perfectly matched.

The inspirations are obvious and Patel doesn’t try to hide them either. He is clearly a fan of films like “John Wick”, “The Raid” and “Oldboy”. “Monkey Man” excels in its action scenes. They are gruesome, raw and hugely original. The choreography is thoughtful and fast-paced.

The only downside is the somewhat messy second half. But as a whole, the film is stylish, exciting and rock solid. Well done Dev Patel.

Rating: 4/ 5