What are the odds of a severed arm latching onto a tourist’s fishing hook, setting off a series of events that touch the lives of a detective-turned-food inspector, a forensic pathologist, a young fisherman, and a host of other characters? Apple TV+’s latest offering, “Bad Monkey,” delves into this bizarre premise, weaving a tale brimming with greed and corruption.
Based on Carl Hiaasen’s 2013 novel, the 10-part series, created by Bill Lawrence, places crime and comedy in a delicate balance. Five episodes are currently available for streaming, with the remaining installments set to drop weekly. The story unfolds primarily in Florida and the Bahamas, featuring a star-studded cast including Vince Vaughn, Natalie Martinez, Rob Delaney, Michelle Monaghan, Meredith Hagner, and Ronald Peet.
Positioned as a crime-comedy with a hyperlink narrative, “Bad Monkey” presents different threads converging to tell a multifaceted story. On one front, we have Andrew Yancy (played by Vince Vaughn), a former detective now relegated to food inspector duties in the idyllic Florida Keys. Fifteen miles south, in the Bahamas, Ronald Peet breathes life into Neville, a carefree young fisherman whose rhythmic life of boating and drinking is disrupted by a new resort development. Two more storylines unravel on the U.S. mainland in Miami and through a mysterious narrator’s voice, knitting these seemingly disparate elements together.
Despite its multiple storylines, the series initially mirrors the serene, laid-back nature of beach life, moving at a sluggish pace throughout its first three episodes. The humour, a crucial pillar in the crime-comedy genre, feels forced and often misses the mark, relying heavily on verbose dialogues that rarely meet their intended impact. Viewers may find solace in the picturesque coastal setting and warm colour palettes, yet there remains a threshold to how much visual splendor can compensate for narrative shortcomings.
However, as the curtain lifts on episode four, a dynamic shift takes place. The show begins to delve into the backstories of its ensemble cast, ranging from the morally upright to the dubiously dubious, transforming one-note characters into multilayered personas. Vaughn’s Yancy, for example, transcends his initial irritant of incessant babble, revealing a dedication to morality and justice that becomes his most endearing trait.
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Set against the vibrant backdrops of Miami and the Bahamas, “Bad Monkey” doesn’t just boast scenic glory; it presents a cast as diverse as its geography, featuring characters of White, Hispanic, and Afro-American descent. Notably, John Ortiz adds another layer of inclusivity, portraying Yancy’s gay best friend Ro, who is navigating the complexities of raising children with his partner.
In a show that presents itself as a comedy, it is ironically the humour that seems to falter the most. Laughter is infrequent, even when Vaughn’s Yancy is firing on all cylinders. What redeems Yancy, therefore, is his unwavering moral compass, juxtaposed beautifully against his morally conflicted partner, Bonnie (played by Michelle Monaghan). Bonnie’s journey towards accountability is a genuine surprise, paralleled remarkably by the character development of Natalie Martinez’s Rosa Campesino and Jodie Turner-Smith’s enigmatic Dragon Queen. Their arcs provide layers of depth that add richness to the storyline.
Antagonists in “Bad Monkey” avoid the overly simplistic trope of being evil for evil’s sake. Their driving force is greed, a primal human emotion made relatable by their underlying desperation and mutual misery, making the villains not just haunting but also empathizable.
Despite its merits, “Bad Monkey” isn’t entirely innovative. It grapples with numerous flaws, particularly in its early stages. Yet, it manages to find its footing as the storylines eventually coalesce neatly, offering a satisfying blend of crime, complexity, and subtle surprises towards the end. This gradual amalgamation of disparate threads into a coherent narrative is achieved through a series of clever deceptions, striking a chord much like the titular bad monkey, which turns out to be more than what it initially appears.
In the end, “Bad Monkey” pulls off an unexpected transformation from a show stuck in mediocrity to one that captivates through its intricate storytelling. It’s a show worth the investment, available for bingeing on Apple TV+. So, what are the odds of that?
Published – September 10, 2024, 04:26 pm IST
English cinema
World cinema
television
