I know what you’re thinking. “Wait, why would a super masculine movie reviewer like Caleb go see the newest G-rated Disneynature documentary about monkeys?”
Well, inquisitive reader, I’ll be the first to admit that even I can use a dose of cute in my movie palate, especially after the slew of horror that I’ve seen recently. Besides, my other options were “Unfriended” (which I was able to see at an early screening thanks to MSA), “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2” (which gets a nomination from me for “Most Unnecessary Sequel Ever”) and “Child 44” (which involves communism and child murderers, which are not subjects I’m too keen to delve into after my three tests this week), so here we are. Additionally, part of the proceeds goes to Conservation International, so just go with it, OK?
In “Monkey Kingdom,” we follow a group of macaque monkeys with hairdos reminiscent of Jim Carrey in “Dumb and Dumber” in the mysterious jungles and abandoned cities of Sri Lanka. Our single mother and protagonist, Maya, struggles to climb the ranks in the monkey class system all while protecting and providing for her adorable son, Kip. There’s love, drama, humor, politics, war and survival, all narrated by Tina Fey, and for some reason, it all feels closer to home than it probably should.
There are numerous breathtaking visuals on display here. Whether it’s sweeping shots of the tops of trees with ancient buildings poking their heads out of the top, the serenity of water flowing its course over the edge of a waterfall, or a monkey slapping another monkey directly in the face, you can’t help but be in awe of some of the shots they were able to capture.
As for the script, Tina Fey is the only voice we ever hear, and at times, the monkeys’ snores and screeches are more interesting than what she has to say. Her jokes are hit or miss, but I’m not sure she’s to blame. The script has some heavy-handed and unnecessary but ambitious social commentary at times, but thankfully, the monkeys never get tiresome to watch as they interact and swing from tree to tree.
As for the other actors, the monkeys that play Maya and Kip do a wonderful job portraying a mother/son relationship. Raja is believable as the stoic alpha male, and Lex and Monitor Lizard make for decently unsettling (and unaffiliated) villains, even if they are one-dimensional. Cameos from a sloth bear family, a mongoose, elephants and a remarkably adorable dog are all welcome additions to the cast. The only actor that needs some serious help here is Kumar. His mating call is indistinguishable from his battle cry, an amateur mistake. Good looks can only carry you so far in Hollywood, and this monkey has some work to do.
All jokes aside, “Monkey Kingdom” is a visually stunning and heartfelt adventure that will leave you with a smile on your face and some fresh facts in your brain. For example, who would’ve known that macaque monkeys could swim better than I can? It’s embarrassing, really.
For the sake of full disclosure, it should be mentioned that I absolutely _love_ monkeys. I had a stuffed animal monkey as a child named Kiki, and I once made my parents drive all the way back to church as I bawled in the back seat to retrieve the AWOL primate. Everything was fine, I got him back, but the point is that I have a soft spot for monkeys. Really though, who doesn’t love monkeys? If any part of you likes monkeys, you won’t be let down by Disneynature’s most recent installment. Besides, it’s for a good cause.
**Pass the Popcorn if:** Monkeys.
**Pass it Up if:** Not monkeys.