"Monkey Man" was my most anticipated movie of the year at one point in 2024. The trailer looked awesome and gave off vibes of a Mumbai "John Wick." I was already inclined to give the movie a shot, given it was written by, directed by and starring Academy Award-nominated actor Dev Patel, but when it then got a stamp of approval from acclaimed director Jordan Peele, I was officially sold.
The final version of the movie that I saw in theaters wasn't quite "John Wick." The trailer for the movie is very heavy on combat sequences and action stunts. The movie, meanwhile, is significantly more nuanced.
"Monkey Man" is really a sociopolitical commentary at its core, looking at the caste system and religious oppression, concepts that simply don't get covered in the "John Wick" films. It's something that separates Dev Patel's movie from other action movies, and I wish the trailer and even the film, leaned into it more.
Still, "Monkey Man" ultimately ended up being one of my favorite action movies of 2024 and one I'd gladly rewatch again. Here's why you need to watch it now that it's returned to Peacock.
Monkey Man borrows from 'John Wick,' 'Kill Bill' and Joseph Campbell
As I mentioned already, "Monkey Man" not only stars Dev Patel as the movie's protagonist, known simply as "Kid," but it's also written by him and serves as his directorial debut. The more you think about it, the more impressive that is — especially since the finished product is so polished.
The camerawork and stunt choreography aren't always on par with the best the "John Wick" franchise has to offer, but it's got some moments that could certainly hold their own. Kid's fights in the Tiger's Temple underground fight club are excellent, as are both of the extended fight sequences in the luxury brothel, Kings.
But again, this movie is more than a beat-em-up dungeon crawl on celluloid. The core of the story is a revenge story, as Kid hunts down those who massacred Kid's entire village — including Kid's mother (Adithi Kalkunte) — led by the corrupt police chief Rana Singh (Sikandar Kher).
Rana isn't the true villain of the movie, though. He's merely a pawn for Baba Shakti, a spiritual guru and leader of an ultraconservative nationalist party.
This is where "Monkey Man" transforms into a movie like "Kill Bill" or a hero's journey ripped straight from the pages of Joseph Campbell. Patel's "Kid," like Tarantino's Beatrix Kiddo (who, similarly to the Kid, is initially known only as "the Bride"), knows who he needs to kill to get his revenge and first must work through deadly, well-trained underlings to get to the true villain of the story.
"Monkey Man" isn't flawless. The movie's acts don't transition seamlessly, and I found myself sometimes disagreeing with Patel's more technical directorial choices. However, it's still very good, and a must-watch in my opinion. Don't miss it now that it's back on Peacock, one of the best streaming services we've reviewed.
Stream "Monkey Man" on Peacock now
