Dev Patel shocked the world with the surprising release of the Monkey Man trailer a couple of weeks ago. The film which Jordan Peele was not going to allow to just go to streaming had its premiere at SXSW this week. We were lucky to be able to watch the film and have so many thoughts. I think the best way to go into Monkey Man though, is to stop comparing it to anything you’ve seen. Patel manages to make an action film as he says with “spice”, and it truly shines here.

Monkey Man is at its core a revenge film and we’ve seen that before with most action movies. I think what sets Monkey Man apart, however, is how unafraid it is to stick to Patel’s roots. The film takes us deep into India as we see the politics and culture right in front of your face. Dev manages to bring these issues to the forefront and engrains them into the revenge story. I think it works for the most part but also muddles the movie at points. The movie feels like it’s trying to say so much all at the same time and doesn’t always stick the landing.

Dev crafts Monkey Man as an homage to prior action movies and his unapologetic love for culture. However, feels like it’s trying to say so much all at the same time. The movie can get drowned out in its own story but luckily some amazing action sequences reel it back in. Monkey Man doesn’t skimp out on the action at all with some high octane and kinetic sequences. The highlight for me is the way Patel showcases the violence with so much rhythm and visceral images. Dev definitely has a unique balance to his action as it feels both familiar but also fresh. In a genre that has seen great action films in the last decade from The Raid to John Wick it can be hard to stick out. I believe Patel manages to do that while also still paying homage to the ones that came before.

The cast here is great but there really isn’t much development for the other characters in the film besides Patel. I would have loved to get to know more of the other characters, which would have raised the stakes more. In my opinion, this is where the movie can feel flat to me. The storylines aren’t as engaging as the action. We needed more time to really take in everything happening around us with more character backstories; I do believe Patel’s character is fully fleshed out though. The story of our hero is alive and well; it’s just everything else around him feels like cardboard.

The action sequences manage to save the film for me. Patel’s distinct eye and also inspired sequences more than make up for the flaws. The movie is oozing with edge and cool but also has a grimy look to it. It also has what I believe will be one of the most talked about sequences of the year. Monkey Man is even more admirable once you hear of the brutal time Patel had filming it; it was a film that honestly sounded like it wouldn’t be made. In a panel with SXSW Patel talked about the numerous times they had to stop shooting due to Covid or Patel’s injuries on set. Despite these setbacks, and overloaded story, this is a fun film for any fan of the action genre.

We give Monkey Man 3.75/5.