how is he not the next bond?
How Much Ass Does Dev Patel's 'Monkey Man' Kick? A Ton, Based On These Early Reviews
Critics got to see an early screening of Dev Patel's directorial debut, the upcoming action film "Monkey Man." Patel not only directs the movie, but is starring in it and has co-writing credits. While producer Jordan Peele's name is on the poster, this is far from a spooky affair. It, in fact, kicks all sorts of major ass.
The film is releasing on April 5, 2024, and stars Dev Patel, Sharlto Copley, Pitobash, Vipin Sharma, Sikandar Kher and Ashwini Kalsekar. Here are the early impressions from those who were lucky enough to see it.
The good
The bulk of the reviews suggest this one is really good.
"A bloody good time" is truly the most common sentiment from all the positive buzz coming out of SXSW. If this doesn't launch Dev Patel into a household name, then the only thing he could possibly do is become the next James Bond.
The action sequences, in particular, are also a big highlight and one of the movie's main attractions. It sure would suck to have bad action scenes in an action movie.
MONKEY MAN is more than just a bloody good time. Dev Patel takes his time with the storytelling, weaving personal tragedy with inner strength, mythology with modern political revolutions. It’s an action tour de force, full of talent and fucking passion in every frame. #SXSW pic.twitter.com/hhKyJRM8oW
— kevin l. lee @ SXSW (@Klee_FilmReview) March 12, 2024
MONKEY MAN: Dev Patel's dynamite directorial debut is much more than a John Wick clone. While it drags a bit in the middle, it cements him as an action star all his own with a spectacular ending. Let no one doubt the power of Patel again.
— Chase 'Hutch' Hutchinson @ SXSW (@EclecticHutch) March 12, 2024
My #SXSW review: https://t.co/qjahhDbWJ9 pic.twitter.com/OhgxxQ3gat
Is MONKEY MAN more of a passion-over-technique mash note to mayhem cinema than anything else? Yes. Does it also have an incredible climactic showdown + convince you Dev Patel could pummel an army one bloody-knuckled punch at a time? Also very much yes. https://t.co/pG9wsNJcy5
— David Fear (@davidlfear) March 12, 2024
After a couple of long days at #SXSW2024, MONKEY MAN is the first great film of the fest. With tons of top notch action sequences and plenty of heart, director/writer/star Dev Patel delivered something truly special! An absolute knockout of a directorial debut! #MonkeyMan pic.twitter.com/M50XbsCHqw
— Ryan McQuade (@ryanmcquade77) March 12, 2024
Dev Patel delivers an ambitious and ridiculously violent action movie, but there's a lot more bubbling beneath the surface, for better or worse. #MonkeyMan
— /Film (@slashfilm) March 12, 2024
Read our full review from #SXSW!https://t.co/7MlVvOm9ez
at the premiere's Q&A, Dev Patel was like "oh yeah I broke my hand...and my foot...and tore my shoulder. And of course, the eye infection from rolling around in all that muck. Anyway, great shoot we became a family"
— Jacob Oller (@JacobOller) March 12, 2024
Went a little longer than usual on Monkey Man, a movie that plays like a mixtape of Dev Patel’s action influences:https://t.co/tNoz9AJKIL
— Katie Rife (@RifewithKatie) March 12, 2024
On the passion project that is Monkey Man, a movie that is going to be huge for Dev Patel. For @ebertvoices https://t.co/NJ1oRUh4G1
— Brian Tallerico (@Brian_Tallerico) March 12, 2024
"As a star, Patel has rarely been better. And as a director, he grants an intoxicatingly gruesome vision of the kind of gritty vehicles he could steer in the future."
— Robert Daniels (@812filmreviews) March 12, 2024
My #SXSW2024 review of MONKEY MAN via @Screendaily is live. https://t.co/zBVasG09db
The bad
There weren't too many bad reviews, but one did point out how Patel (the director) has resorted to cliche beats that have already been covered.
“Monkey Man”: even outside its confoundingly muddled political imagery, Dev Patel doesn’t have the juice as an action filmmaker—at least not yet—but he wears his influences on his sleeve. A cinematic and cultural synthesis that yields facsimile. #SXSW2024 https://t.co/vEPE8PBzfa
— Siddhant Adlakha (@SiddhantAdlakha) March 13, 2024
#MonkeyMan is a little too slow/overstuffed. However, when Dev Patel gets into action mode, it’s unbelievably enjoyable. He’s got it as a director and an action star. #SXSW2024
— Alan French (@TheAlanFrench) March 12, 2024
dev patel’s ‘monkey man’ positions itself as an action-packed love letter to films that the actor/director/writer loves, but falters when trying to do anything new. two fights bookend a film that pleads to be punched up. still, there’s promise! #SXSW2024 https://t.co/mhebO4xs8p
— coleman spilde (@colemanjspilde) March 12, 2024
The ugly
Since the movie deals with an allegorical depiction of Indian politics, it'd be a shame if this doesn't get a full global release, especially in India.
So, not releasing in India. Got it. https://t.co/7mLsl0nTaz
— Abbas Momin (@AbbasMomin) March 12, 2024