Dev Patel’s directorial debut Monkey Man has created quite a buzz, especially after the movie was premiered at SXSW where it received an overwhelming reception from the audience, a lot more than what Patel expected. The trailer of the movie released for global fans also intensified the hype even further. It gave away the test of what fans could expect from the movie. As the movie hit theaters, the consensus from fans and critics on the movie revealed how the movie turned out.
Critic’s Verdict On Dev Patel’s Monkey Man
Dev Patel in Monkey Man. Image Credit: Universal Pictures
Dev Patel’s Monkey Man debuts on Rotten Tomatoes with an impressive 87% score. Picking up the chapter on his heritage, Patel who also stars in the film elevated the essence of thrill in the immaculate action-packed movie blending the cultural touch that, as many critics said, was exciting to watch. Here’s what the top critics say about the movie—
“Dev Patel comes out swinging in the monumentally entertaining and bare-knuckled revenge flick…,” Chicago Sun-Times’ Richard Roeper said.
“Monkey Man isn’t without its faults, and it does take some time to find solid ground. But Patel shows directorial promise, displaying a uniquely personal vision that allows his film to defy simplistic genre classifications,” Sara Michelle Fetters (MovieFreak.com) said of the film.
“Monkey Man is in no rush to get where it’s going and Dev Patel puts a lot of trust in his audience to stick with him to see where it arrives,” Slant Magazine’s Justin Clark said.
“Terrific. Has its own feel, look, texture and a bravado performance by the director/star. The India locale and theme is original with high, brutal action that makes Patel a serious contender in the John Wick genre,” FilmsInReview.com’s Victoria Alexander reviewed.
“Monkey Man, a revenge tale set in the corrupt underbelly of India, is an impressive outing from Patel, who not only stars in it but also serves as its writer and director,” Audrey Fox from Looper.com said.
“Monkey Man is a thrillingly over the top action flick catapulting Patel into a new genre and lane for his cinematic legacy moving forward,” Carla Renata from The Curvy Film Critic stated.
Patel deserved the accolades as Monkey Man was the project born out of his blood, sweat, and tears. This is a brand new journey for the actor and it is just the beginning of what the future holds.
Fans Are Mesmerized By Monkey Man
Dev Patel in Monkey Man. Image credit: Universal Pictures
Fans around the world also found the movie living up to the hype it created. They celebrated the astonishing new journey of Patel as he delivered a near-perfect action thriller with inherent bloodshed and gore while keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. Fans took to X appreciating the essence of the movie.
The more I think about #MonkeyMan, the more I love it. What a passionate film. You can tell every single person who worked on this loved it. THIS is the type of stuff I go to the movies for!!! pic.twitter.com/LBoIRTCWUw
— Nikko (@NikkoCaruso) April 6, 2024
I’m fully on the Dev Patel train now. I haven’t been this happily surprised by a movie in a while. It has the makings of being a cult classic. #MonkeyMan pic.twitter.com/TuP8Guoprq
— Devin – Art (@bluboy4ever) April 6, 2024
Dev Patel debuted with something so much more profound and cathartic than I could have expected with #MonkeyMan. There was so much felt and said. Deeply soulful action-thriller. I am so excited to see what else he directs but I’m even more excited to see him do action again! pic.twitter.com/RnAG0SgW3i
— Travis Gunn 🍿 (@TravisAGunn) April 5, 2024
#MonkeyMan absolutely rules!!! It's so much more than just "Indian John Wick" with a compelling story and a main character that you find yourself really rooting for. Dev Patel kills it as director/lead actor, and really kills it in numerous brutal fight scenes! pic.twitter.com/2UL3HwLFKd
— HalloweenYear-Round 🎃 (@HalloweenYrRnd) April 5, 2024
I just want to thank Dev Patel and co. for presenting one of the most powerful and beautiful portrayals of trans people, particularly trans women, I've ever seen on screen, ESPECIALLY in a genre such as this. The film's biggest and sincerest surprise, I'm so touched. #MonkeyMan pic.twitter.com/mDdfcTcOCb
— Great Fairy's Clawfoot Bathtub (@thesincerestfem) April 6, 2024
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The accolades from fans and critics revealed the unified consensus that Monkey Man is one of the best recent action thrillers justifying every cinematic action sequence with splendid choreography. Patel as a director and as the lead shined in the film showing his prowess in the realm of direction as well.
Monkey Man Is Dev Patel’s Answer To Typecast
Dev Patel in an action scene in Monkey Man. Image credit: Universal Pictures
Monkey Man is not a project born in a moment’s time to desperately cling on to the Hollywood glaze and its affection for action films as audiences embrace the genre but rather an ambition of ten long years. In a chat with Entertainment Weekly, Patel revealed how he intended to answer the typecast with his latest flick. “Early on, I could never get access to a role like this,” Patel told the outlet.
“If I was going to feature in an action film, I would be the comedic guy on the side, the tech dude, whatever. [But] to break the mold, you have to enter it. For me, it was like, ‘Okay, I’ll show them what we can do.’”
He actually did. Patel has always wanted the pie of an action star, not exclusively because of the fandom but the immense love for the genre. However, Monkey Man was not the only action film from the actor, he showed his prowess as an action star appearing in the lead in David Lowery’s A24 film The Green Knight.
Monkey Man is in theaters across the US.
