Mahanth S. Joishy is Editor of usindiamonitor

[[This film has no plot, therefore, spoilers not possible]]

British-Indian actor Dev Patel, best known as the lead actor in Slumdog Millionaire, has made his debut as simultaneous director, writer, and actor with Monkey Man, out in theaters now. Patel has done so with a gigantic splash- of deep red blood, infused heavily with Hindu religious and cultural overtones. In particular the ancient epic mythology around the monkey Lord Hanuman, worshipped by millions around the world, is front and center in the narrative arc of the main character Kid portrayed by Patel, for better or for worse.

After witnessing the fantastic amount of violence and gore visually unfolding at breakneck pace on the big screen accompanied by ear-popping sound effects, I am still struggling to decide whether to recommend this movie or not. The level of bloodshed in Monkey Man quickly becomes over the top, to the point of comical. On the one hand as an Indian-American, I appreciate the act of suspending rational thought in order to enjoy action violence with Indian and Hindu overtones- including my first-ever high-speed rickshaw chase scene! On the other, it is tragic that for a majority of the Western audience this film will be their first and only exposure to Lord Hanuman, and this introduction is a deeply flawed one. Hanuman, the mighty primate military general from the ancient Hindu epic text the Ramayana, should be considered much more than a vessel for blood-soaked vengeance Hollywood style. I am not insulted as a Hindu, but rather disappointed that this interesting and complex character is watered down to a narrative device for unmitigated bloodlust, which is not indicative of the Hanuman I know and admire.

Monkey Man has no plot whatsoever. The movie is an elaborate series of juvenile video-game violence set pieces, choreographed almost like a Bollywood song and dance number. It’s a gleeful romp of carnage purely in the service of revenge, like a homage to Hollywood blockbusters swimming in unadulterated vengeance like John Wick (overtly called back). If viewed through this lens as the latest offering in this established niche genre, the movie shines spectacularly. The main character Kid must fight and defeat various levels of video game bosses in order to destroy the evil organization that brutally murdered his mother right in front of his eyes when Kid was a very young kid. First he must cleverly infiltrate the Bombay organized crime syndicate to gain access to the boss villains. Along the way we find gorgeous costuming, music, and fight sequences utilizing a wide array of weapons and backdrops, like a crowded restaurant kitchen or filthy underground fight rings. These sets and scenes must have taken an enormous amount of work to build.

The film is a loving homage to many others to hit the big screen from out West before it, with an Indian twist. Most notable about the film to me are the many callbacks, starting with John Wick. I was also reminded of Shoot Em Up, the Extraction movies, and Chinese kung fu classics such as The 36th Chamber, any Jackie Chan flick, and the Rocky movies. It was not lost on me that with this film about martial arts Dev Patel followed in the footsteps of Sly Stallone, who rose to fame by writing, directing, and acting in the first Rocky film that started a multi-decade, legendary movement in film about the boxing underdog in a hardscrabble world overcoming the odds stacked against him through grit. And a little help from his friends.

Kid is a brawler who appears in the ring and in other contexts wearing a gorilla mask, which works well as an aesthetic device and connection to Kid’s spiritual hero, Lord Hanuman. Watching Monkey Man is a stark reminder that we humans are no more than primates, with an overwhelming desire to hurt other apes in order to feel good. Just witness the overwhelming amounts of domestic violence and international wars alike taking place in the 2024 world. In the obligatory training montage scene, we see a fantastic cameo by Zakir Hussain, probably the best and most famous tabla master of all time, accompanying the Kid as he beats on a punching bag to the sound of the classical Indian drum beat. The scenes where he enters the ring to fight- and take a dive for extra pocket money- conjures the British Raj, as the white foreigner who plays promoter implores the crowd to cheer on Indians beating other Indians to a bloody pulp in the underground fight club because there is profit in it. Students of history will recall the classic divide and conquer strategy employed by imperial Britain and other colonial powers.

So deep is the desire for revenge, there is barely enough time for a cursory nod to romance: a cliched few tender moments between Kid and the pretty prostitute trafficked by the evil enemy organization.

Bizarrely, the exact same reasons why I liked Monkey Man and would recommend it to others are also why I disliked the movie and would invite people to skip it. The substantial cultural and religious iconography paired with an obvious tale of good vs. evil stirred up a primal feeling in me, and made me want to cheer on the bloodletting. On the other hand, there is nothing original or profound here except the cheap pairing of the wine (India as the backdrop) with the main course (video game violence). I find it sad that for many Americans this film will be their first, and possibly only exposure over their lifetimes to Hanuman. And in this, Dev Patel missed a golden opportunity to show what Hanuman, the legendary Monkey God, is really about.

P.S.: President Obama himself carries a Hanuman trinket, which thrilled Hindus the world over.