Skip to main content

Monkey Man (2024)

 

Monkey Man is a John Wick-style movie set in India with revenge and political overtones.

Story by, directed, and starring Dev Patel, the movie has an identity issue that seems intentional. There's a line in the film where a gun dealer says "You like John Wick?" hinting at how the movie is marketed towards that audience. Dev Patel has the look of someone who could pull off a John Wick-style movie too the problem is that the movie is a bait and switch.

Any Wick movie will need a good fight choreographer. Brahim Chab does his best as many of his prior times as a fight choreographer have been in no-name Thai or B movies. There isn't much of a story done through the fighting and there are too many cuts and odd camera angles.

The film has a particular producer, there are 23 in total which take that for what you will, but the particular producer is Jordan Peele. His name alone got me even more excited for the film as I've enjoyed Patel in most things and Peele has a few good movies. This film feels nothing like something he has made in the past, there is no stamp where I would say 'Peele must have helped with that scene.'

I wrote earlier that the film is a bait and switch. The trailer makes you feel like you're going to get a John Wick-style movie but really the film is about a man who seeks revenge, but to accomplish this he must get the help of transgenders to turn him into a martial artist seemingly overnight. His abilities don't come from hard work but supernaturally from his religion. I felt disappointed and the action was mid. Result: D+

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Supergirl (2026)

Supergirl is directed by Craig Gillespie , known for I, Tonya and Cruella , and written by Ana Nogueira . The film attempts to launch a new corner of the DC universe while simultaneously giving Supergirl her own coming of age journey. While the movie does succeed in giving its protagonist a genuine character arc and lays some groundwork for future stories, the script often struggles with dialogue and plot points. Several lines land awkwardly, pulling scenes out of their emotional moments rather than enhancing them. In many cases, the performances feel less at fault than the direction, as stronger takes or rewrites could have improved several key exchanges. Milly Alcock , known for House of the Dragon , carries the film and easily emerges as its greatest strength. She brings vulnerability, confidence, and determination to Supergirl, making the character feel relatable even when the material around her falters. Alcock does everything she can with the dialogue she is given, and her per...
Post a Comment
Read more

Jackass: Best and Last (2026)

Jackass: Best and Last is directed by Jeff Tremaine , who has guided the franchise since the beginning, and stars Johnny Knoxville alongside many of the familiar faces that helped make Jackass such a cultural phenomenon. Marketed as both a farewell and a celebration, the film splits its focus between archival footage and newly filmed material. While the nostalgic moments remind audiences why the series became so popular, the heavy reliance on older footage makes the movie feel less like a proper sequel and more like a retrospective with a few new additions. Johnny Knoxville , known for Jackass and Bad Grandpa , remains the face of the franchise and still brings his usual enthusiasm and willingness to suffer for entertainment. Even as age has clearly slowed some of the more dangerous stunts, Knoxville continues to provide the energy and personality that holds the film together. His presence helps maintain the spirit of the earlier entries, even when the material itself feels less a...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Drama (2026)

The Drama is directed by Kristoffer Borgli  known for Dream Scenario and Sick of Myself. T he film feels determined to present itself as something profound and artistic. Borgli leans heavily into style and ambiguity, but the result is a movie that often feels more interested in appearing meaningful than actually being meaningful. The pacing is hurt by constant quick cuts between scenes, rarely allowing a moment to breathe or an emotion to settle. Just as a scene starts to build momentum, the film jumps somewhere else, making it difficult for any dramatic moment to land with the weight it deserves. Zendaya , known for Dune and Challengers , plays her role with an extremely restrained approach. Unfortunately, the performance often feels one-note, with much of her emotional range limited to variations of frustration and disappointment. Whether this was a directorial choice or an acting one, it creates a distance between the character and the audience that the film never overcomes....
Post a Comment
Read more