Cinema surveillance images are loading at the bottom of the page

Monkeybone

Threat advisory: Guarded - General risk of entertaining activities

Movie propaganda

Bone 2 b bad.

Monkeybone is a comedy revolving around a cartoonist Stu Miley (Brendan Fraser) and the incredible fantasy world that takes place in his mind after he slips into a coma. Trapped in this outrageous land called Down Town, nestled between life and death, he must somehow find the means to return to reality.

Persons of interest

Brendan Fraser .... Stu Miley
Bridget Fonda .... Dr Julie McElroy
John Turturro .... Monkeybone
Chris Kattan .... Organ Donor Stu
Giancarlo Esposito .... Hypnos
Rose McGowan .... Miss Kitty
Dave Foley .... Herb
Megan Mullally .... Kimmy Miley
Pat Kilbane .... Burger God Representative
Lisa Zane .... Medusa
Whoopi Goldberg .... Death
Sandra Thigpen .... Alice
Wayne Wilderson .... Hutch
Amy Higgins .... Clarissa
Alan Gelfant .... Dr Edelstein
Kaja Blackley .... Author: Dark Town
Sam Hamm .... Screenwriter
Henry Selick .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

Studios and distributors:

20th Century Fox

Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

Ho hum.

Monkeybone is an idea in search of a film. Having had that first germ of inspiration the creators decided to add some big name cast, throw in a few gags and structure the whole thing around that. It didn't work. Monkeybone comes off as an unscary horror, an unfunny comedy and a solipsistic romance.

Brendan tries hard but there's nothing for him to actually do, so he ends up looking like a try-hard. Bridget is stuck with a one-dimensional character. Whoopi walks through her part, showing only the slightest anticipation in receiving her appearance fee. Chris gets a great comedy role as the organ donor with a broken neck but only plays half the character. A nameless and faceless stuntperson plays the rest.

The computer generated visuals would've been good 20 years ago but in the 21st century they are unacceptably bad, most noticeably in the transfer from Monkeybone puppet/doll to animated character. This sort of special effect shouldn't even be noticeable.

On the plus side, Stu's cartoon is hilariously sick. It's just a shame that the same can't be said for the movie itself.