Bad Monkey

While it's a little bit of a throwback to the '90s when shows overflowing with characters that eventually all come together were more prominent, it's also got a hip, modern tone. Do yourself a favor and check it out.

The “Swingers” star [Vince Vaughn] is a perfect match to play former Miami detective Andrew Yancy. .... “Bad Monkey” is indeed bananas, in the best ways possible.

“Bad Monkey” the TV series is a near-perfect realization of “Bad Monkey” the novel.

A vehicle tailor-made for its leading funnyman Vince Vaughn—and one of the year’s sunniest surprises.

The 10-episode crime dramedy, developed by Bill Lawrence (Ted Lasso), gives Vaughn a showcase to do what he does best — though with a gentler, more mature polish.

Vince Vaughn is in his element as a fast-talking detective in Apple TV+’s engagingly weird mystery comedy Bad Monkey.

A ridiculous but gripping, sun-soaked slice of crime comedy, Bad Monkey deserves to be your next murder-mystery binge-watch. With plenty of shock twists and turns, this show is no basic beach.

There’s a loosey-goosey quality to “Bad Monkey” that keeps the tone light, emphasizing the comedy even when it sits alongside more dramatic moments.

This is the Vince Vaughn–iest role the Dodgeball star has played in at least a decade, and it’s immensely satisfying to watch him joyfully reclaim his rascally side. But Yancy isn’t all wisecracks and witty banter.

What makes “Bad Monkey” special is that there is nothing special about it. It’s a little wayward at times, what with its huge cast of characters and myriad plot lines, some of which are, strictly speaking, unnecessary, but it gets the job done in a good old-fashioned colorful way.

Bad Monkey may not be perfect, but, much like its source material, it feels like the perfect kind of summer viewing material. With a charismatic cast and a mostly compelling mystery, this series is another overall win for both Lawrence and Apple TV+.

The narrative is elaborately plotted but not labyrinthine. The relationships all feel fresh—Yancy’s bond with his long-suffering ex-partner, Ro (John Ortiz), puts new blood in the cop-buddy convention—and the characters are unconventional, even if Yancy is an amalgamation of every Vince Vaughn role ever.

A low-key but non-stop-talking Vaughn turns out to be just the glue to hold everything together. .... I found myself drawn back to the characters, making this a series worth spending time with.

Vaughn is so good, the entire cast of characters (which also includes Scott Glenn as Yancy’s laid-back dad, and Alex Moffatt as a developer with what Yancy describes as ” the most punchable face I’ve ever seen not on a golf course”) so much fun, and the vibes so strong, that the mystery very quickly becomes besides the point. The season covers the entire book, but the last scene leaves the door open for more adventures of Andrew Yancy. By that point, you may, like me, feel eager to spend more time with this fast-talking man and his surreal little corner of the world.

“Bad Monkey” may err on the side of too much, but anything less wouldn’t be true Hiaasen — neither would anything quieter. Garrulous brilliance is what the author, and Vaughn, were made to blather.

It’s all zany, fun, and very far-fetched. Which is everything you could want from a summer potboiler.

Bad Monkey has a bit of a shaggy feel to it, with potential to fly off in a lot of different directions and a lot of characters to keep track of. But if anyone can keep a show like this on point, it’s Lawrence and his crew.

Undemanding but effective, offering all the distraction of a sunny day without the need to relinquish the AC. Lawrence surrounds his core ensemble with personalities — a douchebag real estate agent trying to offload a waterfront McMansion; a novelty T-shirt baron with potential ties to the Russian mob — who may not advance the central case, but help enhance the vibe.

The show never quite nails Hiaasen’s satirical edge, his very specific perspective on Florida’s grifters and interlopers, settling for soft mockery of corrupt institutions and the nouveau riche. It’s all surface, but when the surface is this pretty — white-sand beaches, sparkling blue water, condensation glistening on a cold beer — you may very well be happy to spend some time on it.

Vaughn's charming turn as detective-turned-health inspector Andrew Yancy means that Bad Monkey is entertaining even when its story slouches toward its conclusion. The ensemble also shines throughout, featuring standout performances from Meredith Hagner, Natalie Martinez, and Jodie Turner-Smith.

Florida is a strange, divisive place, but Bad Monkey, while not as propulsive as the book, gives it a mostly pleasant and palatable time in the sun.