What are the chances of a severed arm hooking onto a tourist’s fishing line, setting off a chain of events involving a former detective turned food inspector, a forensic pathologist, and a young fisherman, while also unraveling the lives of numerous other characters? The series ‘Bad Monkey’, currently streaming on Apple TV+, delves into this bizarre premise, weaving a story about greed and corruption.
Based on Carl Hiaasen’s 2013 novel of the same name, ‘Bad Monkey’ is a 10-part series created by Bill Lawrence. With five episodes currently available and the remaining set to drop weekly, the series is set in the picturesque and sunny locales of Florida. The ensemble cast includes Vince Vaughn, Natalie Martinez, Rob Delaney, Michelle Monaghan, Meredith Hagner, and Ronald Peet, bringing a plethora of talent to the screen.
Structured as a crime-comedy and employing a hyperlink narrative style, the series splits its storytelling across distinct geographical and narrative threads. One storyline unfolds in the paradisiacal Florida Keys, where Vince Vaughn’s character, Andrew Yancy, leverages his expertise as a food inspector. Another story, 450 kilometers away in the Bahamas, follows local fisherman Neville, portrayed by Ronald Peet, as his quiet life of fishing and drinking is disrupted by the arrival of a new resort project. The mainland of Miami serves as the backdrop for the third narrative arc, while a fourth thread is unfurled by the show’s narrator.
Despite juggling multiple narrative arcs, ‘Bad Monkey’ initially mirrors the languid pace of its beachside setting. The first three episodes saunter along sluggishly, and the humor—often emerging from verbose dialogues—rarely lands as intended. This leaves viewers to find comfort in the coastal ambience and the warm, sunny visuals the show effuses.
Vince Vaughn’s portrayal of Andrew Yancy is central to the series. However, there’s only so much that the scenic visuals can compensate before monotony starts to creep in. The initial episodes offer snippets of trivia—like the replacement of conventional streetlamps with red lights to accommodate turtle nesting—that momentarily relieve the tedium. Yet, it takes until the fourth episode for the narrative to truly catch its stride.
From the fourth episode onwards, the series dives into its crime-caper core. Character backstories are meticulously unraveled, and the plot begins to flourish. Vaughn’s Yancy, initially coming off as one-dimensional, evolves into a more fleshed-out character. Other characters, who merely flitted in and out in earlier episodes, also gain significant depth and importance.
Set against the vibrant backdrops of Miami and the Bahamas, ‘Bad Monkey’ embraces a diverse cast reflective of contemporary Hollywood.
. The show features characters of various ethnic backgrounds, adding layers of authenticity and inclusivity to the narrative tapestry. John Ortiz plays Ro, Yancy’s gay best friend, who is raising two children with his partner, further rounding out the show’s inclusive approach.
Ironically, for a series aiming to be a comedy with Vince Vaughn in the lead, the humor is perhaps its weakest link. Laughter is sporadic and uneven, often failing to materialize even when Vaughn’s character delivers his rapid-fire lines. There are moments when Vaughn’s Yancy comes perilously close to being more irritating than entertaining. Yet, what redeems Yancy is his unwavering moral compass. His obstinate adherence to doing what is right, his act as the self-appointed ‘world cop’, becomes his most endearing trait.
Equally compelling is Michelle Monaghan’s portrayal of Bonnie, Yancy’s morally ambiguous on-and-off partner. Her journey towards accountability provides a pleasantly surprising narrative arc. Noteworthy, too, are the character arcs of Rosa Campesino, played by Natalie Martinez, and Jodie Turner Smith’s Dragon Queen. These women bring additional layers of surprise and fulfillment to the story.
The villains of ‘Bad Monkey’ add further richness to the plot. Unlike many shows that take the easy route of portraying villains as innately evil, the antagonists in ‘Bad Monkey’ are driven by greed—a deeply human emotion stemming from mutual misery. This makes them more relatable and, in a sense, more real.
Despite its initial shortcomings, ‘Bad Monkey’ eventually finds its rhythm. The convergence of its multiple narrative threads towards the end is handled organically, tidily tying up loose ends. The show’s appeal lies, in part, in witnessing how a series that began on a middling note manages to piece itself together effectively by its latter half. The title itself, ‘Bad Monkey’, becomes an ironic nod to the deceptive elements scattered throughout the storyline.
‘Bad Monkey’ is now available for streaming on Apple TV+.
