‘Bad Monkey’ Review – A Compulsively Watchable Vince Vaughn Series Doing Vince Vaughn Things

Your enjoyment of Bad Monkey will hinge on two essential factors: first, how much you enjoy watching Vince Vaughn do his signature Vince Vaughn things, and second, whether you appreciate humorous crime fiction akin to Elmore Leonard’s crime fiction work. These aspects are central to the new Bill Lawrence entry in Apple TV+’s growing library.

The adaptation of Carl Hiaasen’s novel of the same name takes a few episodes to find its footing. However, after a while, you begin to fall under Vaughn’s considerable comic charms, including the witty dialogue, fast-paced noir narrative, and a series filled with morally ambiguous characters and Bad Monkey’s addictive blend of dark humor. While Bad Monkey may ultimately be light on substance, it is always entertaining—compulsively so.

Bad Monkey follows the trials and tribulations of a man constantly looking at life through the bottom of a glass that is perpetually half full. That is former police detective Anthony Yancy (Vaughn), who finds himself living in the Florida Keys after a demotion from the Miami Police Department. The problem with Yancy is that he follows the evidence no matter where it leads, including if it pisses off the brass.

Despite his partner, Rogelio’s (American Fiction’s John Ortiz), objections, Yancy continues to go his own way. Yancy works as a health inspector for the Division of Hotels and Restaurants, visiting the most seemingly ordinary establishments along the Florida Keys. However, his career takes another questionable turn when tourists hook something more than a fish: a severed arm, with the only identification being a wedding band on its ring finger.

Despite having no legal authority, Yancy visits the coroner to investigate the owner of the missing appendage. He begins to fall for Rosa (Natalie Martinez), who takes an interest in both the case and him. Together, they uncover more than they bargained for, including a cunning widow (Meredith Hagner), an Obeah-preaching “Dragon Queen” (Jodie Turner-Smith), and Yancy’s on-again, off-again girlfriend (Michelle Monaghan) who has a secret.

From the creators of Ted Lasso and Shrinking, Bad Monkey is not as empathetic as those acclaimed series. Still, this Vince Vaughn-led show embodies elements of delightful comedic community, optimism, and resilience. However, as the story progresses, this mystery neo-noir blends black comedy into a delightfully potent cocktail of intrigue, twisty plots, and a darkly comic exploration of whether love is a con job or a gamble worth taking.

The series is supported by a phenomenal cast, including Deadpool’s Rob Delaney, who finds an ominous side to his usual comic relief. Monaghan, in a subplot that initially seems out of place, eventually comes full circle, offering a poignant commentary on accountability and living a life well-lived. Meanwhile, Vaughn has excellent chemistry with the radiant Martinez, which carries the audience to a satisfying conclusion.

The scripts, largely due to Vaughn’s likability, feature witty, almost flippant, rhythmic, and remarkably self-assured dialogue. The series smoothly gravitates towards its eccentric characters, including the capuchin monkey in question, Zach Braff’s slimy, fraudulent physician, and Ronald Peet, who is a good guy except when it comes to his only vice: womanizing women around the Bahamas.

However, you might wish Bad Monkey’s cultural clash between the storylines involving the Peet and Turner-Smith characters offered a more pointed critique of Western culture and exploitation. Instead, the novel presents more moments of cultural clash between the laid-back lifestyle of the Florida Keys and the modern city trappings of Miami.

While you will appreciate how the worlds come together in the end, more could have been done to highlight this aspect of the novel’s storyline. However, half the fun comes from star Vince Vaughn, who highlights these eccentric characters’ brushes with human folly, satirizing the absurd nature of human behavior when it comes to such things as love, money, and loneliness.

Either way, the draw here is Vaugh, who offers an indulgence of earnest charm and humility that at times, is irresistible. Along with a very engaging mystery, Bad Monkey is a series worth your time.

You can stream the first two episodes of the new Vince Vaughn series Bad Monkey on August 14th. The series then will drop new episodes each week until October 9th.

What did you think of the Apple TV+ series? Let us know in the comments below!