Call It Tom Petty Noir

As a longtime resident of the Sunshine State, I must say that “Bad Monkey” has captured the essence of Florida like no other show I’ve seen before. Having spent countless hours at Sloppy Joe’s Bar and munching on conch fritters, I can attest to the accuracy of their portrayal of our sunburned anti-heroes.

In August, summer enters a sort of interim period on the brink of the next season. It’s still appropriate for lazy afternoons in hammocks and beach getaways, but there’s an undercurrent of apprehension in the air together with the moisture, foreshadowing the approaching obligations — school, work, duties — that begin to gather on the horizon, like clouds on the sea.

In a laid-back, island vibe reminiscent of mid-August, “Bad Monkey,” Apple TV+’s new series by Bill Lawrence (creator of “Ted Lasso” and “Shrinking”), based on the quirky mystery novel by Carl Hiaasen, takes you to three picturesque locations: Key West, Miami, and Andros, a small Bahamian island. Despite the idyllic settings, these tranquil havens are frequently disrupted by more sinister elements such as greedy real-estate developers, crooked cops, and even Mother Nature’s wrath. The show has a unique atmosphere that is both tense and relaxed, much like a Jimmy Buffett song playing in the background with a warning barely heard. The characters in “Bad Monkey” find themselves stuck in different stages of limbo, each trying to grasp and maintain moments of joy, as well as the stunning views over clear waters, for as long as possible.

The character in question is Andrew Yancy, a towering and witty ex-Miami detective who was moved to work for the sheriff’s department in the Keys but was also temporarily suspended from that role. Despite this disciplinary action, the sheriff assigns him a task in the initial episode: retrieve a human arm found in the ocean and transport it to Miami’s coroner’s office so they can deal with it. However, Yancy isn’t the type of man who can just drop off a body part and continue with his life as usual. Instead, he becomes curious about why that arm appeared and ends up getting himself into increasingly complex problems with an effortless nonchalance that suggests a charming individual adept at talking his way out of any predicament. Interestingly enough, Vince Vaughn plays this character, which is quite fitting given his acting skills.

Yancy shares familial ties with Trent Walker, the character Vaughn portrayed in the movie “Swingers”; Beanie Campbell from “Old School”; and Jeremy Grey of “Wedding Crashers”. Similar to them, he’s a chatty individual with a heart full of kindness, backed by a degree in sarcasm. When his father, portrayed by the seasoned Scott Glenn, remarks that Yancy’s new girlfriend appears unfazed by his less desirable traits, Yancy swiftly objects. “I’m not sure I have any undesirable traits,” he quips dryly. “Perhaps it’s my excessive caring or being overly enjoyable to be around?” This role in the movie “Dodgeball” marks a delightful return for the actor to his playful, mischievous self, which has been missing from his performances for quite some time now, making it highly enjoyable to watch.

While Yancy may come off as jovial with his jokes and quick-witted conversations, there’s a melancholic undertone to his solitary existence, and this is a common theme among the characters in Bad Monkey. This departure from Lawrence’s usual sentimental style, who is known for finding the good in all his characters, underscores the complexity and flaws of these characters, some of whom are irredeemable. The show, co-created by Matt Tarses and Ashley Nicole Black, intentionally avoids Lawrence’s typical tendencies because they don’t align with the material. The characters in Bad Monkey are multi-layered and flawed, and if you were to display a “Believe” sign anywhere in this show, it would quickly be defiled with chewed gum. Fundamentally, Bad Monkey has zero tolerance for nonsense. Not the harmless banter that Yancy dishes out from his barstool perch, but the deceitful, hypocritical, and cruel kind of nonsense that makes the world a more challenging place.

Beneath the actions in this series, there’s a subtle undercurrent of mistrust towards those who disregard the natural world. This is particularly evident on Andros, where Neville (Ronald Peet), a young man fighting to keep his inherited waterfront land, fears it might be taken by developers planning a luxurious resort. Meanwhile, the enigmatic and sometimes ominous Dragon Queen (Jodie Turner-Smith) grapples with her own dilemma: whether to collaborate with the resort owners or uphold the sanctity of the island, which she claims as her spiritual home.

Initially, it’s puzzling how all the business on Andros ties to Yancy and his associates in Florida, such as his passionate partner Bonnie (Michelle Monaghan, delivering a compelling performance), cynical best friend and cop Rogelio (John Ortiz, trading witty banter with Vaughn), and Rosa (Natalie Martinez, radiating warmth and sexuality). However, the series’ narrator, who offers ongoing commentary, guarantees that these relationships will be clarified eventually, and he keeps his word.

In most other series, excessive voice-over narration might come across as pretentious or redundant. However, in this particular show, Tom Nowicki’s voice-over, who also portrays a minor character as a fisherman, sometimes feels reminiscent of a modern Carrie Bradshaw typing away at Sloppy Joe’s Bar: “She couldn’t help but ponder if Andrew was out with Rosa.” Yet, there are instances where the narration is almost poetic in its brevity, such as “This was the first time Yancy had ever seen a poor choice in an orange dress,” which adds a certain charm to it. Nowicki delivers these lines with a rough, straightforward manner that makes it seem like he’s sharing this tale while taking sips of Corona. Instead of becoming irritating, the narration becomes more endearing as you continue watching.

If the orange dress reference didn’t give it away, “Bad Monkey” shares similarities with Florida noir novels. The characters don keys instead of shoes and enjoy conch fritters, under a neon-lit sand drenched in red lights meant to safeguard baby turtles. Given the abundance of Tom Petty songs in its soundtrack, it might be more fitting to label “Bad Monkey” as ‘Tom Petty noir’. The music of Florida’s renowned rock-and-roll artist resonates with the show’s vibe, mirroring the anti-Establishment and critical nature of American society’s obsession with status, yet presenting it in a relaxed manner. If there ever was a rebel without a cause, it’s Andrew Yancy. However, he also yearns for a world that functions as it should, not as it does. Similar to its lead character, “Bad Monkey” is a series that champions justice and patience while awaiting the moment when the universe aligns with it.

2024-08-14 22:55

Call It Tom Petty Noir

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