Dev Patel‘s Monkey Man (aka “John Wick in Mumbai“) is not a Hollywood Elsewhere-type film. Did I even need to write that?
Monkey Man completed shooting in early March of ’21. or roughly 34 months ago. Why did the producers need three years before it was ready for release? Netflix had originally expected to release it in ’22, then it was pulled from their lineup. They sold it to Universal last year. That studio will release it on 4.5.24.
You know it has problems.
Actual narration excerpt from Monkey Man (1:17 to 1:21): “Every day I’ve prayed for a way to protect the weak.”
Ditto (:20 to :36): “A demon king and his army…they brought fire and terror to the land until they faced the protector of the people…the white monkey.”
Monkey Man is obviously bottom-of-the-barrel pulp exploitation, aimed at action-fan guttersnipes…the lowest of the low. It actually looks more like John Wick meets RRR sans musical scenes.
Logline: “A recently released ex-felon living in India struggles to adjust to a world of corporate greed and eroding spiritual values.”
Patel directed, produced (along with many others), stars, wrote the story and co-wrote the script (along with Paul Angunawela and John Collee).