Monkey Man – Film Review

Director – Dev Patel
Writers – Dev Patel, Paul Angunawela, John Collee
Stars – Dev Patel, Sharlto Copley, Pitobash

This is the directorial debut of Dev Patel who also conceived the story, co-wrote the screenplay and co-produced alongside Jordan Peele and others. No pressure then.

Patel clearly doesn’t believe in making life easy for himself – something reinforced by his character here. He plays the Monkey Man of the title – a moniker he earns fighting in illegal matches wearing a monkey mask. We never learn his real name but we do get flashbacks to his childhood and the murder of his mother. Now his sole purpose in life is to hunt down the corrupt leaders who are responsible for her death.

Like so many other action films at its heart, this is a vigilante movie. Thorough nefarious means he manages to infiltrate a private club his targets attend and he puts his plan for revenge into action. Cue some explosive fight scenes. Of course, it isn’t just a case of wham, bam thank you mama or it would be a very short movie.

There is a lot going on in this movie. It is a very audacious directorial debut. There is more than a shade of John Wick about it – even down to  Patel’s look in the film – but that isn’t a bad thing. Alongside the action he has managed to include serious sociopolitical commentary that never feels tokenistic.

Although setting the movie in Mumbai could make it appear to be a reflection on that culture’s caste system the messages about inequality and equity will resonate worldwide.

This isn’t for the squeamish – it is incredibly violent. But it is also entertaining and thought-provoking. No doubt Jordan Peele offered Patel some guidance as this is an extremely confident piece that gives the impression of being directed by someone with far more experience. It makes me excited to see what Patel does next.