Incannerax
What a waste of my time!!!
PiraBit
if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.
Brennan Camacho
Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.
poe-48833
As with most of what he's done, George Romero's MONKEY SHINES focuses on Human interaction(s)- to the Nth degree, one might say (thanks to telepathy). Not unlike many of the low budget sci-fi and horror movies of the 1950s and '60s, MONKEY SHINES presents its concepts in a straightforward fashion, without the often off-putting tongue-in-cheek attitude of filmmakers whose attitudes suggest they're just slumming in the genre(s). It would be interesting to find out if Romero's decision to direct this one had anything to do with the monkey that he once owned (see the NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD filmbook by John Russo or THE ZOMBIES THAT ATE PITTSBURGH by Paul Gagne). (One of my many misadventures driving a cab involved a monkey: I was sent to pick up "the monkey lady." When I asked what that meant, I was told, "You'll see." It turned out that the woman had a pet monkey on a leash. The little guy was only about ten inches tall- if that. He was wearing a little black leather jacket. I made the mistake of smiling at him. He clutched my forearm with both hands, bared his fangs, and BIT me. His teeth didn't penetrate my jacket, but I felt as if I were being pinched very, very hard. The woman pulled him off of me and explained that looking a monkey in the eyes and "flashing my fangs" at him was an "act of aggression." Suffice it to say, I don't own a monkey...)
SnakesOnAnAfricanPlain
George Romero does an excellent job of swapping Zombies for Monkeys. This film may sound ridiculous in the most preposterous way. But then again, we now live in a world of Snakes on a Plane and Burning Bright, so this is a little easier to swallow. In its genre, it is one of the best examples, and I'm not just talking about killer animals. I'm also referring to the stalker/obsessive partner/friend genre. What Romero does brilliantly, is to take a number of characters and the audience on a journey of emotions and self discovery. For example, I started off wanting one of these monkeys. The relationship built up is a genuinely loving one. It's really cute, and this could easily be one of those lifetime inspirational movies. If the monkey wasn't a genetically modified, telepathic, homicidal, psycho monkey. The well trained monkey takes us from tragic victim of experiments, to a loving carer. We get a wonderful cleaning montage, as the monkey helps the friendship expands. The monkey's obsession grows steadily. It starts off with a few temper tantrums and escalates into bananas in the slippers. Soon bananas turn to murder. It's the evolution of all species.None of this would work if it wasn't for a dramatic human connection. Beghe is a law student/athlete that is paralysed. He goes through acceptance, denial, frustration, which is understandable as his girlfriend leaves him for his doctor (a sleazy Tucci), he gets a patronizing nurse, and then his overbearing mother. It's great to see how the characters react to Beghe's quadriplegia, as it enforces Beghe's later anger. Beghe also does a terrific job of facial acting, which is most important as he can't use his body. In a single look he can convey the embarrassment of his mother having to wash him. On the surface, this is a story of a monkey being a bitch to a cripple. But look deep down, REAAAAAAALLY deep, and you'll see a social commentary. For a long time, the monkey is the only one that treats Beghe as an equal. It doesn't throw money at his problem, try and cheer him up, nor can the monkey do everything for him. Romero fills the film with dread, absurdity, and most of all a serious edge that clearly does the film justice. It's easy to mock this film. But the truth is, this could actually happen. Monkeys are creepy and untrustworthy.
thesar-2
George A. Romero, best known for slowly – as in decades, but surely – as in don't call me Shirley, bringing social commentary and zombies into the light brings us the very, very 80s Monkey Shines.Growing up, and as a grown up, I'm drawn to horror films. I remember this film dearly and loved it…back then, i.e. the late 1980s and early 1990s. Unfortunately, time has not been kind to the ole monkey named Ella (played wonderfully by…Boo.)The movie wasn't bad, per se, it's just too long. Yeah, a complaint I have about a lot of movies, and for the most part, I can back it up. No different here.We open with an unintentionally hilarious crash scene involving a running man, a barking dog and flying bricks. The athletic and college-student man, Allan (Jason Beghe who apparently is trying to channel Robert DeNiro) is a'joggin' when he's struck and is forced into a life of a quadriplegia. His mother, Dorothy (Joyce Van Patten, who, I'm sorry, comically looks like a man (SEE: Ms. Swan or Austin Powers) throughout) hires a straight-edged/comic-relief nurse (Christine Forrest) and best friend, Geoffrey (John Pankow) gets a human-brain-injected experimental monkey trained to take care of him.Meanwhile his girlfriend, Linda (Janine Turner) leaves and Ella (the monkey) starts to win the heart of Allan while Allan woos the heart of the trainer, Melanie (Kate McNeil.) Meanwhile, the original girlfriend dates another and mother sells her business to help her son. Meanwhile, Geoffrey's experiments may/may not be producing results and he might lose funding from his boss, Dean (Stephen Root.) Meanwhile, Geoffrey's trying to contain the situation while taking too many drugs, himself. Meanwhile, Allan's growing angrier by the moment by show of cuss words. Meanwhile, Ella's kinda feeling left out.Meanwhile, meanwhile, meanwhile. There's really just too much here. I wish it had just been a simple story of a 'Man and his Monkey,' albeit eeevil monkey. And why couldn't we have left it at that. Throw out the (sorry, spoiler) telekinesis segment.I'm aware we have to use some suspension of disbelief, but we're dealing with a lab-rat monkey. That should've been enough to make us believe something's bad about to happen. When you throw in the 1980's answer to horror, or telekinesis – heck, even Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood jumped on that bandwagon two months prior in 1988, it lessened the tension/horror. For me, at least.This is one of those movies you loved as a kid – if you were into these types of horror movies, and were a kid in the mid-to-late-1980s, that is – but doesn't really hold up today. It's fine and all, and slightly recommended to a new audience, but be forewarned: this is clearly an 80s project and certainly not timeless in any way.I will end with some very positive observations: I loved every scene with Boo. But then again, I'm biased: I love monkeys in entertainment. They always make me laugh or curious to see what they'll do next. Also, it was fun to watch such a YOUNG Stanley Tucci, though he was kinda lost in the 150 subplots. In addition, I couldn't help but laugh at seeing Stephen Root in a serious role (yeah, I'm used to him in Office Space as the stapler-hugging Milton)…this is how most people probably would react when they see a grave Leslie Nielsen before Airplane! And finally, though it's a suspenseful movie – mostly in the closing that kinda of reminds you of Pet Semetary – it does contain one of the most eerie horror movie poster's I've seen.
beastlyskter
I hated this movie. It was boring, it dragged, it wasn't scary, and it had nothing noteworthy. Before you start flaming me keep in mind that I do realize that this is George Romero and the studio messed him over or whatever. I feel bad for the guy and I like his films, but at the end of the day this movie is just flat out dumb. If you've seen the cover for this movie ignore it and move along. This cover was skunk turds. It showed this evil monkey looking creepy and scary. Well guess what that monkey isn't even in the film. Instead we get a super smart helper monkey. If it sounds cool to you I can't blame you but it was a bunch of garbage.Nothing in this movie is scary. The plot is too ridiculous for the audience to relate too, thus nullifying the feeling that this could happen to you. The tension in the film really doesn't work, because even though the main guy is in a wheel chair helpless, he goes so slow and it just seems humorous rather than scary. The worst part of this movie is the pace. It drags along from one uninteresting scene to the next before somebody dies. It must have been at least one hour before there was any action, and that includes the monkey killing the bird. So really if your a horror fan and a Romero fan then you will still hate this movie. This film is more for the stay at home mom who has a soft spot for paraplegics and they want tension, drama, and a feel good ending. So please do yourself a favor and skip this garbage.
