Oscar nominee Dev Patel poured his heart and soul into Monkey Man, and his unwavering commitment resulted in a film that masterfully blends adrenaline-pumping action with thought-provoking social commentary. Patel’s feature film directorial debut hits an occasional rough patch, but when it’s firing on all cylinders, it’s incredibly entertaining.
It’s hard to believe that the same Dev Patel who made his breakthrough in Slumdog Millionaire has now become a badass action star. The opening scenes introduce his character, Kid, as a brawler wearing a gorilla mask, his hidden face serving as a punching bag in an underground fight club. Winning isn’t his goal; earning cash is why he is in the ring. The more blood that flows from his beaten body, the higher the payment he receives from the club’s owner, Tiger (Sharlto Copley).
Kid’s battered in the ring, but it’s nothing compared to the trauma he has endured at the hands of the city’s corrupt leaders who’ve murdered the poor and stolen their land. Patel and co-screenwriters Paul Angunawela and John Collee weave in flashbacks to fill out Kid’s backstory, justifying why he is obsessed with exacting revenge against Police Chief Rana (Sikandra Kher).
To that end, Kid finagles his way into a job at the elite King’s Club, run by Queenie (Ashwini Kalsekar). The city’s sleaziest powerbrokers frequent the establishment, with politicians and religious figures mingling with drug dealers and human traffickers. The cops follow Chief Rana’s lead, turning a blind eye to the illegal activities and handling security at this den of iniquity.
While continuing to mentally and physically prepare to kill Rana, Kid rises through the ranks from dishwasher to waiter in the King’s Club’s exclusive penthouse. It’s there that Kid puts his plan for vengeance into motion. His first attempt on Rana’s life is unsuccessful and places a target on Kid’s back.
Even as he recovers from his fight with Rana and the intense escape that followed, his mission remains clear. Kid’s body is beaten, but his spirit is not, thanks to Alpha (Vipin Sharma) and his transgender community. Alpha’s spiritual guidance and Kid’s memories of his mother’s stories of the Hindu deity Hanuman motivate him to continue his fight against those who oppress the poor and powerless.
Dev Patel does a fantastic job in front of and behind the camera. Monkey Man is an outstanding directorial debut for the popular actor who grew up obsessed with action films. Patel’s appreciation for the genre is obvious in every frame of Monkey Man, with references to John Wick and nods to the fury of Bruce Lee, Oldboy, and The Raid.
The first-time helmer delivers a powerful gut punch with this bloody, R-rated revenge thriller. Flashbacks of horrific violence against the persecuted by the malevolent ruling class provide the justification for Kid’s vengeance. He’s on the side of the righteous, using his skills as a fighter to take down the corrupt police and those they protect. Thanks to Patel’s terrific performance, the rage Kid feels is palpable and radiates off the screen.
The action scenes are gritty, gory, and inventive. Pots, pans, serving dishes, and even toilets are lethal weapons in Kid’s hands. The one-on-one fight sequences have such an intense and furious pace that even as an audience member, they will leave you breathless. And the third act of Patel’s Monkey Man is a thrilling spectacle, with the action intensifying to a frenzied climax.
The setting is specific, but the message is universal. As Patel has explained, Monkey Man touches on faith, trauma, politics, and identity. It’s also an effective, brutal rebuke of the caste system, wrapped up in a wildly entertaining action film to make it more palatable.
GRADE: B+
MPAA Rating: R for sexual content/nudity, language throughout, drug use, and strong bloody violence
Running Time: 121 minutes
Release Date: April 5, 2024
Studio: Universal Pictures
