Apple TV Plus is no stranger to releasing highly rated projects. Recent hits include Sunny, Presumed Innocent and the Erica Tremblay film Fancy Dance. And based on early reactions to Vince Vaughn’s brand new comedy-drama, the Apple TV Plus library seems to have grown even more. another a must see show.
The series we’re talking about is “Bad Monkey,” a new black detective drama based on the 2013 book of the same name by Carl Hiaasen. The series takes us to South Florida and embroils suspended detective Andrew Yancy (Vaughn) in a bizarre new case revolving around a severed arm that turns up on his doorstep.
The first two episodes of Bad Monkey dropped on August 14 (here’s how to watch Bad Monkey now), and critics agree that the show is off to a strong start. Trying to decide if the show is right for you? Here’s more information about the show to help you decide if you want to watch it.
What is “Bad Monkey” about?
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A bizarre black comedy driven by greed and a colorful cast, Bad Monkey follows detective-turned-restaurant inspector Andrew Yancy as he tries his best to solve a new case he’s convinced is fishy. And no, that’s not just because the case begins with a tourist digging up a severed forearm.
After taking custody of the missing body part and bringing it to Miami for examination by medical examiner Rosa (Natalie Martinez), Yancy’s carefree life in the Florida Keys is over and he begins an investigation that brings him face to face with the murder victim’s widow, corrupt real estate developers, a voodoo priestess and, of course, the titular mischievous monkey.
Apple’s full synopsis for the series reads: “‘Bad Monkey’ tells the story of Andrew Yancy (Vince Vaughn), fired from the Miami police department and now a health inspector in the Keys. But when he stumbles upon a case that begins with a human arm recovered from tourists, he realizes that if he can prove a murder, he’ll get back in. All he has to do is get past a bunch of Florida oddballs and an evil monkey.”
Should you stream “Bad Monkey”?
As a streaming writer, I do my best to watch as much TV as possible. I’ve already watched the first episode of “Bad Monkey” and I bet it’s going to be hard not to get drawn into this light-hearted black comedy.
Vaughn is a charismatic lead from the start, meshing well with the rest of the ensemble, and the show’s offbeat humor is already making me laugh. What I’ve seen of the show so far has convinced me to add “Bad Monkey” to my weekly rotation of shows.
If my reaction doesn’t convince you, maybe the critics’ reaction will. On review website Rotten Tomatoes, the series is certified “Fresh” and currently has a critics’ score of 92% from a total of 26 reviews. The show doesn’t currently have an audience score, but since it just came out today, that makes sense.
The critical consensus reads: “Bad Monkey is a lively variation on the detective series of television years past and a light-hearted pastime that makes full use of Vince Vaughn’s chatty charm,”
Emma Fraser of IGN calls the show “an entertaining, if disjointed, crime comedy” and says Bad Monkey is “a show that makes the most of its striking locations, doing justice to the bold colors of the Florida and Bahamas backdrops. Executive producer Bill Lawrence is now responsible for three of his three Apple shows, and delivers a match made in heaven with Vaughn.”
Nick Schager, writer for The Daily Beast, made a similar statement, saying that “Bad Monkey” was “a tailor-made vehicle for its lead comedian, Vince Vaughn—and one of the hilarious surprises of the year.”
Daniel Fienberg of the Hollywood Reporter, meanwhile, says the comedy easily overcomes its weaknesses, calling it “a pleasant way to spend 10 hours.” “As a crime thriller or semi-thriller, it doesn’t work at all,” writes Fienberg. “But it’s wry, easygoing and sun-kissed in a way that appropriately reflects Hiaasen’s tone. With a stellar cast led by Vince Vaughn, Natalie Martinez, Michelle Monaghan and Jodie Turner-Smith, and an impeccable eye for Florida locations, this is a pleasant way to spend 10 hours.”
Not convinced Bad Monkey is for you? Check out our roundup of the best shows on Apple TV Plus for more great streaming recommendations.
