Fans of Vince Vaughn who’ve been waiting to see him flex his rapid-fire comedic muscles in a worthwhile venture can rejoice. The Vaughn we’ve longed to see, from his breakout role in “Swingers” to his scene-stealing role in “Wedding Crashers,” is on full display in Apple +’s new series, “Bad Monkey.” In this hopefully not “limited series” from developer/producer Bill Lawrence, author Carl Hiaasen’s 2013 book of the same name serves as the basis for ten episodes that provide pure entertainment from the get-go.
Those familiar with Hiaasen’s work know his stories come steeped in South Florida culture, and its cavalcade of characters is a mixture of hilarious off-beat heroes, villains, cheats, scoundrels, opportunists, tough cookies, and society sun-baked dropouts. I’m leaving out at least 20 more varieties. “Bad Monkey” has got them all, and with its 10-episode arch, no stone or character is left unturned. Hiaasen’s plot doesn’t need to get truncated to fit a two-hour film run time, which may be why only one of his stories made it to the big screen, the 1996 misfire, “Striptease.”
Vaughn, who plays the lead character, fallen-from-grace former Miami detective Andrew Yancy, must have seen the golden opportunity Hiaasen’s “Bad Monkey” presented—the chance to joke and riff his way through a series of episodes so ideally suited to his comedic sensibilities that one could say, this is the role Vaughn was born to play.
The plot of “Bad Monkey” is a juicy one. Once a local Key West fishing expedition reels in a severed arm, it isn’t long before a mystery deepens, and bodies start popping up. Along the way, Vaughn’s Yancy gets involved, and he’s a guy who likes to put his nose into where it doesn’t belong. Although disgraced and demoted to restaurant inspector, Yancy can’t put his detective instincts away, and when he enlists the help of a bored forensic scientist, Dr. Rosa Campesino, sparks ignite, and a humorous detective story moves into high gear.
Along the way, we meet a pair of real-estate scamsters, the Striplings, who will go to insane lengths to realize their vision of resort paradise. Thrown into the mix are a displaced fisherman, his pet monkey (who isn’t bad at all), a dragon lady, an island enforcer, good cops, bad cops, a chatty drug-running pilot, an over-zealous weather person, a cantankerous boat captain/show narrator who turns every episode recap into a hilarious event, turtles, deer, and an ex-girlfriend with a good heart, but an appetite for doing the wrong things.
The story, which is more of a shaggy-dog tale than it is a serious “who done it,” serves as a way to showcase a talented and funny cast, anchored by one of my favorite comedic performances of the year. Hands down, this is the best Vince Vaughn’s been in years, and he seems to be having a blast in every scene.
When it was over, I was relieved that Hiaasen wrote a second Andrew Yancy story, “Razor Girl,” and by all accounts, it appears as if Bill Lawrence wants a second season. I do, too. So, hurry up, Apple+, and renew this show. And good news for all those who don’t have Apple+. Word is, they’ve made a deal with Amazon Prime, and shortly, shows like “Ted Lasso” and “Bad Monkey” could be coming to that streaming service. If you want something fun to watch, take a chance on “Bad Monkey.” I think you’ll have a pretty good time.
James Kent is the publisher’s assistant at the Mountain Times and the co-host of the “Stuff We’ve Seen” podcast at stuffweveseen.com. Got a film or show that you’d like James to review? Write to him at editor@mountaintimes.info.
