MONKEY MAN
Starring: Dev Patel, Sharlto Copley, Pitobash, Sobhita Dhulipala, Sikandar Kher, Vipin Sharma, Ashwini Kalsekar, Adithi Kalkunte, and Makarand Deshpande
Director: Dev Patel
QUENTIN
There is nothing bad about Monkey Man, other than since it’s reminiscent of so many movies I’ve seen before, I found myself losing interest as it went on. John Wick, Kill Bill, and Batman Begins are all there…they just have an Indian flavor now. Plus, I think the story would have been more engaging had it been told in a different order. That said, on a positive note, this is a tremendous debut for Dev Patel behind the camera. The shots he created demonstrate that he has an excellent eye, and if nothing else, Monkey Man has made me eager to see what he directs next.
ADRIANO
In Monkey Man, Dev Patel steps behind the camera for the first time with the ambition and talent of an experienced director. I do wish the movie's writing was more engaging and less of a sloppy mess, though. For the first 40 or so minutes, I was thinking to myself, "can we move on?" That said, once the action hits, it HITS; it's stylized, precise, gory, and so intensely brutal. I was eating every second of it, especially during the wildly kick-ass third act. I'm very excited to see what Dev Patel's directorial career has in store.
NICK
With Monkey Man, Dev Patel, in his directorial debut, becomes the latest actor to jump into the role of action star. In terms of his performance, he is badass, violent, and commands the screen. The direction and script need work, though. Patel shows promise behind the camera, but whether it’s him or the editors, the action in the first half of the film is far too frenetic and hard to follow. Also, the social and cultural commentary lack the development they need to carry weight. It’s a fine first crack, but I look forward to Patel’s growth in his next effort.
AMARÚ
Damn, Dev Patel did not have to go that hard. From the epic needle drops to his forceful direction and powerful performance, Monkey Man is his tour de force as writer, director, and action star. Even amongst massive pacing whiplash in the second act that made the film drag a tad bit too long, you can feel the sheer focus of Patel’s voice and the intense passion he put into each frame. This directorial debut is a helluva statement, and if his next outing can tighten up the narrative structure, we may have the next event filmmaker on our hands.
KATIE
Monkey Man is an electrifying directorial debut from writer, director, and star Dev Patel, who gives an exceptional performance as the titular action hero. Patel’s passion for the project is evident in every frame, and the film is not only an impressive addition to the action-revenge genre, but also sets itself apart by diving into themes of political unrest. The action is ultra violent and frantic, beautifully choreographed with enough sweat and grit to have an impact and appear authentically brutal, while the camera fluidly follows every punch thrown and bone broken. I cannot wait to see what Patel does next.
PRESTON
Monkey Man could be reductively classified as an Indian John Wick, but that may be giving the film a little too much credit. While I think Dev Patel does a great job with his acting, the film suffers from a lack of focus overall. Patel’s directing style, featuring crazy whip pans, shaky handheld shots, and zooms are ambitious but disorienting. For a style that is usually right up my alley, I quickly lost interest, and coming in at two hours, the editing could be much more robust. The potential is there, though, and I hope Dev Patel continues on this well-intentioned path.
CALEB
Although it has some problems, Monkey Man is still an extremely impressive directorial debut from Dev Patel. It’s a blood-soaked revenge-thriller that’s bursting at the seams with adrenaline and grit. The action sequences are undeniably fantastic, but the narrative occasionally stumbles. Although I can commend the second act for addressing some important cultural and political problems, I wish it didn’t have to grind the film to a halt in order to do so. Despite the wonky pacing, Monkey Man is still a solid action flick with amazing cinematography, passionate performances, and one hell of a finale.
