Review of Monkeybone (2001) by Zack S — 25 Nov 2009

When Henry Selick created a Nightmare before Christmas it was the start of a new era in stop motion animation. While Selick has always stayed in the world of stop motion animation he has given us a great and wonderful time with that, James and the giant peach was phenomenal and now in 2001 he created a film that blends perfectly live action with the stop motion animation of his design. And this film so happens to be called, Monkeybone.

Monkeybone is smart, charming, unrelentingly funny and visually breathtaking it's a fantasy adventure with such high class and such great comedic timing that it just leaps out at you and sucks you deep, deep into the world of Henry Selick and his wild, dark and zany creatures. What I loved about this film is how Fraser's character started out meek and dull and slowly but surly turned into the hero and real man you know he is on the inside. It's a great face the music type of story and a great fantasy adventure that is just too good and just too eye catching to resist.

Brendan Fraser gives one of his best comedic performances here as comic strip scribe and creator of Monkeybone Stu Miley. Fraser's performance is key to the film and it sometimes calls for him to go above and beyond the call of duty for his role. But never the less Fraser pulls it off nicely and helps make this comedic adventure worthy watching. Bridget Fonda is alright as the doting and caring girlfriend Julie, while not as strong as Fraser and not as serious as she could have been Fonda does alright with her part and is not a thorn in this films side. John Turturro is fantastically funny and witty as the popular but treacherous comic strip character, Monkeybone. Turturro breaks out all his comedic skills and brings some seriously huge laughs and style to this film as the voice of the mischievous little monkey. But all in all the cast holds up great and brings some serious charm laughs to an otherwise unique and original picture.

Monkeybone is cool as it is slick and while not as popular as it should be or as praised but Henry Selick's Monkeybone is an original and visually striking motion picture that I know if your forgiving and open up to this world Monkeybone will not disappoint. All in all Monkeybone is one wild and zany trip you really want to take.