NOW IN THEATERS! Inspired by the legend of Hanuman, an iconic symbol embodying strength and courage, Monkey Man stars Dev Patel as Kid, an anonymous young man who ekes out a meager living in an underground fight club where, night after night, he wears a gorilla mask and is beaten bloody by more popular fighters for cash.
After years of suppressed rage, Kid discovers a way to infiltrate the enclave of the city’s sinister elite. As his childhood trauma boils over, his mysteriously scarred hands unleash an explosive campaign of retribution to settle the score with the men who took everything from him.
The Kid’s rage was formed in his youth when he witnessed the death of his mother, whose town was being overrun by corruption and greed by those living in the highest level of the caste.
Now a young adult, Kid is working menial jobs and training to be a cage fighter under the management of the Promoter (Sharlto Copley). He goes out to lose to the champion each night and makes a show of it. Unhappy with his performance, Kid is only paid half his deserved wages.
“…Kid concocts a scheme to work for the town’s crime boss…where he finds the man who killed his mother…”
Needing to earn more cash, Kid concocts a scheme to work for the town’s crime boss, Queenie (Ashwini Kalsekar), where he finds the man who killed his mother, the police chief (Sikandar Kher). With the unwitting help from mafia underling (Pitobash) and sexy club worker (Sobhita Dhulipala), Kid attempts to take down the Chief, but fails…barely. Now, on the bad side of the mafia and the law, Kid goes into hiding with the local priest (Vipin Sharma), who teaches him to become the legendary Hanuman, an icon embodying strength and courage…also known as the Monkey Man.
The best part of Monkey Man is the third act, when the Kid becomes Monkey Man. There’s an incredible arcade-style boss fight in the fighting pit, and then the Kid attempts to exact revenge for his mother’s death against the Chief. The best action comes in the kitchen fight, which is prominently featured in the trailer. Of course, we have to add saving the girl.
The problem with Monkey Man is the first and second acts. The first act is essentially the Kid getting his a*s beat in a spectacular way. The second act slows the energy down drastically in the second act.
"…Indian film with American sensibilities."
