Monkeybone
© James C. Hess
As I sat down to write a review of the movie "Monkeybone" word came through unnamed sources talks to avert a strike by the Writers Guild are likely to break down.
Which means, basically, product previously churned from the bowels of the Hollywood machine will cease for a time.
To which I must reply (having sat through the aforementioned "Monkeybone"): And this is bad why?
Given the lackluster list that make up the 2000 Academy Award nominees, given the less-than stellar years Hollywood has had of late, and given movies like "Monkeybone" are being made with increasing frequency I have to say, knowing I will infuriate more than a few: This. Is. A. Good. Thing.
It is A Good Thing because the longer a strike goes on the less garbage Hollywood will have available. This means, in time, Hollywood will have to make better films and movies.
I know: It's a nice theory, but is it realistic?
We can only hope.
Brendan Fraser stars in "Monkeybone". He plays a cartoonist named Stu Miley ("S. Miley"--get it? That is, overall, the level of humor in this movie.) Stu created a character named Monkeybone, which is very popular. So popular, in fact, it might just star in its own TV show some time very soon. That is, it would star in its own show but Stu is an Artist--not one who readily accepts success stemming from his efforts. In fact, he goes to great lengths to avoid success--he flees a fancy event with his girlfriend, Julie (Bridget Fonda). They would escape the reality, but as they drive away a huge plastic Monkeybone toy in the rear of their vehicle inflates, causing an accident. Julie escapes injury, but Stu is put into a coma.
Not much of a plot this. What can a guy do in a coma? To keep the plot lumbering along Stu's sister is introduced. She is not a nice person--she wants to pull the plug on her bro.
Stu may seem to be in a coma, just like the plot. But unlike the plot he isn't. In his mind Stu has taken an escalator to a place called 'Downtown', a nightmarish dreamland nightclub like-place ruled by a character named Hypnos (Giancarlo Esposito).
Downtown is an okay place. But a more interesting place not far from Downtown: Thanatopolis, ruled by Death (Whoopi Goldberg). The Master of Ceremonies here is a creature named. . .
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