Bad Monkey: Season 1 (2024) - Review

Oct 17, 2024

3 min read

To be honest, I wasn’t expecting a lot from Bad Monkey. I put in on one day just to pass the time, but found myself immediately engaged in a quirky, fun crime show. Based on a novel by Carl Hiaasen, the show nicely blends comedy and mystery, has a great cast and is an entertaining show.

The show stars Vince Vaughn as Andrew Yancy. He’s a suspended cop in the Florida Keys and is, what could only be described as, a Vince-Vaughn-type of character. He’s a fast-talking, smooth-talking, upbeat guy who frequently talks himself into, and then out of trouble. He also often tends to do the wrong things, even if for the right reason. Although suspended, he is asked to transport a severed arm (found on a fishing trip) to the medical examiner and finds himself embroiled in a case of murder, greed, corruption and just a dash of voodoo. And that’s before all his personal problems.

I really liked the tone of the show. It’s quirky and offbeat, with a dark humour that counteracts the absurdity the narrative sometimes takes. The central mystery of the early episodes is very good and offers a couple twists that I did not see coming. And once the pieces have been put together, it is fun seeing Yancy work to find justice. At times, the story does get serious (and a bit dark), but it is always balanced nicely with humour and a sense of playfulness.

The cast is quite good as well. Vince Vaughn is the engine that drives everything, and while Yancy doesn’t feel that different from many of his other roles, his personality and comedic timing are a perfect fit. Natalie Martinez is the perfect foil for him, even as a love-interest angle develops. The rest of cast all bring small nuance to their character, adding reality to the absurdity of the story. Jodi Turner-Smith is another standout as the possibly magic-wielding Dragon Queen, and Peter Delaney is always great.

And from a Visual standpoint, how do you go wrong with the Florida Keys and the Bahamas? Bad Monkey immerses itself in the local culture of both settings. The scenery is beautiful and provides a great backdrop for the story being told. Again, it’s a nice juxtaposition of the vibrant colours of the tropics with the dark undercurrent of the narrative.

One of the shows weak points is that it tries to work in too many subplots and secondary characters. In particular, a subplot with Michelle Monaghan’s character is a complete waste of time. It starts interestingly enough as she is the reason Yancy is suspended, but the character should have been cut loose a few episodes in. Instead, we get to follow her through a pointless character arc (if it can even be called that). This is just the worst example, but Bad Monkey repeatedly seemed to distract itself with too many characters and subplots when staying focused on the main story would have made for a stronger show.

I also wish the show’s villains had been a little more menacing. It’s mainly a comedy, so I understand they can’t be too dark and evil. However, I wish they had pushed that direction a little bit. It does seem like it wants to position them that way a couple times, but then always pulls back. At times, they were a little too buffoonish and you wonder how they get as far as they do with their scheme. That being said, they were entertaining, and I enjoyed the performances.

While season 1 is a complete story, Bad Monkey does seem perfect for a second season. I don’t know if one has been greenlit at this point, but if there is a season 2, I will be watching. However, if this is a one and done situation, that works for me as well. It’s a good show, but I won’t be heartbroken if this is all we get.

I quite enjoyed Bad Monkey. It’s fun and doesn’t take itself too seriously, even when the narrative gets a bit dark. It can be funny and absurd, while still providing some thrills, and has enough of a mystery to keep you guessing for a while. And it is the perfect role for Vince Vaughn. If you like a good crime comedy, Bad Monkey is one to check out.