Let it be said that every offbeat crime series should begin with the discovery of a severed limb. Vince Vaughn has proven time and again his ability to transition from the snark that defined many an early role into a career that’s allowed him to stretch his less-humorous chops via dour turns on the worst-received season of “True Detective” to some aggression in “Brawl in Cell Block 99.” “Bad Monkey,” the latest from Apple TV+ prodigy Bill Lawrence (“Ted Lasso,” “Shrinking“) and based on a book by Carl Hiaasen, sees Vaughn ease back into a character no one else but he could inhabit, surrounded by a show unsure of what it’s trying to accomplish.
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It’s fortunate, then, that Vaughn’s here to the rescue, portraying ex-detective Andrew Yancy. Following the pilot’s introductory scenes, in which fishermen turn up that not-to-be-forgotten human arm brandishing the middle finger which would serve to set later events in motion, Yancy’s introduction sees the former cop enjoying a drink as he relaxes on his lawn in front of a Floridian beach. Suspension from the force seems to have been somewhat kind to Yancy, as he now passes the time by playfully deterring potential buyers away from the mansion next door. Still, his former partner/best friend Rogelio (John Ortiz) offers the mysterious limb as a means to get Yancy moving and back to his old life once more. Unfortunately, his superiors have slightly different plans, regulating Yancy to the world of restaurant inspections as he attempts to conduct his own investigation as to the arm’s owner, along the way plunging into a meet-cute with medical examiner Rosa (Natalie Martinez) as he navigates a relationship with his ex-girlfriend Bonnie (Michelle Monaghan). Oh, did I mention that a golf cart attack on Bonnie’s scumbag husband resulted in his suspension? Or that an entire B-plot focuses on a different fisherman (Ronald Peet) than those seen in the opening caught up in both a real estate scam and involvement in witchcraft? It’s a substantial amount to keep in order. Yancy would be more content with his drink.
There’s a feeling throughout this season, one that can only be described by the noun Apple TV+; there’s not much present to distinguish “Bad Monkey” from the likes of ATV+ brethren “The Big Door Prize” and “Loot,” with scenes that grasp at making an impression akin to something trying desperately to stay afloat amongst the Florida sea. This setting only evokes the feel of its Southern locale periodically, the rest of the time asking the question if these events could take place roughly anywhere, with a Tom Nowicki-provided voiceover that, in a “Big Lebowski“-esque fashion, expands upon the actions of the current onscreen character unnecessarily. It’s helpful to a point, but by then, feeling more like an interruption. At least Zack Braff is here, taking every moment of screentime and genuinely making the most of it, with the same being said for Rob Delaney in an about-face from his recent upbeat turn in “Deadpool & Wolverine” as the boyfriend of Eve Stripling (Meredith Hagner), wife of that unfortunate soul who lost his arm. If it feels like it’s starting to come together, trust me, this is where the show’s greatest struggle lies. There’s even a reveal about Bonnie’s previous life that feels less like a shocking reveal and more in line with a screenwriter shrugging his shoulders as he commits her half-hearted backstory to paper.
Luckily, Vaughn’s Yancy, one who could easily share a dinner table with nearly every comedic role he’s held over the past three decades, consistently brings the show back to level ground, whether through any conversation (those with Rosa, in particular, ooze chemistry and some of the show’s finest banter) or those periodic scenes where he successfully scares off possible new neighbors while angering the beleaguered real estate agent (Alex Moffat) in the process. Repeated mentions of his lack of a vehicle and reliance on a bike genuinely feel like tribulations with which Yancy would have to contend, and Hagner’s vapidity as Eve flies off the screen. At the same time, the actress gives the character all the false emotion she can in the wake of her husband’s death. Sadly, every time it feels as if the show has begun to find its footing, a quick transition back to Ronald Peet’s fisherman Neville and his truckload of woes act as a constant reminder of the show’s inability to sit still, if for but a moment, and figure out where it’s all headed. Never mind that the two plotlines may eventually come together, as our trusty narrator mentioned; it’s difficult to care by then. Oh, and Yancy’s new role as local restaurant sheriff? “Friends” did it better.
By the season’s midway point, the ability to stay engaged becomes another element to the odyssey that is “Bad Monkey,” even if a tried-and-true Vince Vaughn holds his own amongst the mess. Sad as it may be, his presence is hardly enough to muster enthusiasm for further trips into this peculiar world, with an atmosphere unable to stand out from its contemporaries nor leave any semblance of a lasting impression. It’s hardly bad, but this is one monkey that’s a bit too bananas to truly appreciate. [C-]
New episodes of “Bad Monkey” premiere Wednesdays on Apple TV+.
