Monkeybone

Plot synopsis:
Stu Miley is a disillusioned cartoonist whose comic strip features a rascal monkey named Monkeybone. Stu is in love with a sleep institute worker named Dr. Julie McElroy, who helped him deal with his terrible nightmares by changing his drawing hand. One night, Stu crashes his car after accidentally activating an inflatable Monkeybone raft, causing him to fall into a coma.
His spirit ends up in Down Town, a limbo-like carnival landscape populated by human beings, mythical creatures and figments of people's imaginations where nightmares are entertainment. In Down Town, Monkeybone is real. During that time, Stu befriends a catgirl named Miss Kitty. When Stu learns that his sister Kimmy is about to pull the plug on him, he asks Hypnos, God of Sleep, for advice. Hypnos tells Stu that to get back to the living, he has to infiltrate the Land of Death to steal an Exit Pass from Death which are given out to coma victims by Reapers giving them permission to leave Down Town and awaken from their coma. Stu successfully steals an Exit Pass, but Monkeybone steals it from him in turn and enters the Land of the Living in Stu's body through the Revive-O as Hypnos states that they have plans for Stu's body.
When Stu is locked up, Hypnos later visits the jail cells, where Stu finds himself locked up with Attila the Hun, Jack the Ripper, and Stephen King, who reveals his nightmare of Cujo pulled the same trick Monkeybone pulled on Stu. Hypnos explains to Stu that he plans to use Stu's body to get a chemical substance named Oneirix that Julie developed that gives people and animals nightmares, which gives him more power. Upon being sent to the institute by Hypnos upon reminding him of his mission, Monkeybone (in Stu's body) ends up successfully stealing the Oneirix, switching it with another juice. Monkeybone obtains the Oneirix and puts it inside stuffed monkey toys of himself (Monkeybone) so that those who touch them will be infected and given nightmares. With help from Miss Kitty, Stu escapes from his imprisonment.
Monkeybone in Stu's body prepares a pinata for the Monkeybone farting dolls at the party. Meanwhile, Stu reveals Hypnos' plan to Death upon capture and convinces her to send him back for only an hour, only to find himself in the body of a dead athlete organ donor. As he flees the morgue attendants, Stu finds out about Monkeybone's planned party and heads there with the extractors still in pursuit. At the party, Stu's agent, Herb, exposes himself to the Oneirix in the Monkeybone doll and ends up seeing in the mirror that his clothes are coming to life. This causes Herb to run through the party naked, telling everyone that the clothes have come to life and turned evil. After that, Monkeybone in Stu's body tells everyone to forget about it as he brings down the Stu piñata containing the Monkeybone dolls. Stu uses Monkeybone's main characteristics from the comics to cause him to panic and escape. A chase ensues, culminating with Stu and Monkeybone battling each other while clinging to a giant Monkeybone balloon. The balloon is eventually shot down by a passing incompetent police officer and both Stu and Monkeybone fall barely enough to be non-fatal and fall unconscious.
Stu and Monkeybone are falling toward Down Town where the residents cheer on their fight. Just then, all the rides stop and a giant robot emerges near the Revive-O causing everyone to flee the area. When Stu and Monkeybone are caught by it, the operator of the robot is revealed to be Death, who seems quite cheerful despite the circumstances. Monkeybone tries to have Death let him go to the bathroom, but Death places Monkeybone back in Stu's head which is where he belongs. Death then uses her robot to send Stu back to the living.
Stu wakes up in his own body. Stu then proposes to Julie and they get married. An erratic Herb breaks the fourth wall urging the audience to take off their clothes and the film cuts to an animated sequence where cartoon characters strip their human disguises revealing monkeys underneath.

Tags: cult, comedy, psychedelic

Review:
One thing that weakened Selick's second movie was his decision to begin and end with live action footage, when the glory of both "Nightmare" and "Peach" lay in skilful, sharp, gorgeous stop-motion animation.In "Monkeybone" Selick has watered the original batch of Nightmare juice still more (note to Selick: it's time to stop mining this lode - if you make a fourth feature, get a new look), with at least half of the footage lacking the visual trademarks that were probably the reason for making the film in the first place.
There WAS some stop-motion footage thrown in, probably it's for old time's sake.Still, this is a better, more memorable movie than Selick's last one, and certainly not nearly as bad as the miserable box-office returns and scathing reviews would lead you to believe.
(If you want to see Fraser's charm wasted, see "Bedazzled".)  At one point Stu is forced to temporarily occupy another body (Chris Kattan), and we instantly transfer our affections to the new actor without giving the matter a second thought - which is more remarkable than it sounds, and shows that Fraser really had been WORKING to get us to like Stu.Then there's Downtown, which you must admit, looks good.
The sequence in which Stu goes into the surrealist painting he himself made has an unsettling quality to it that I usually only feel with Dali or Bunuel.Brendan Fraser is very adequate in this movie, and Chris Kattan's appearance was quite welcome, but Bridget Fonda's prodigious acting talents are wasted here..
The cast was excellent with two bravura performances by Brendan Fraser and Chris Kattan.They cemented the film into a wonderfully dark comic piece.This is a difficult balance to develop and maintain.
Monkeybone is a visually delightful, darkly humorous, and totally refreshing fantasy flick full of great special effects, likable characters, and a style that mixes everything from "Brazil" and "Cool World" to "Hellraiser" and "Eraserhead".
It reminded me of  "Dark City", "Freaked", "Forbidden Zone" and the work of Sid and Marty Krofft, but at the same time completely fresh and original."Monkeybone" does suffer from some flaws, but they seem like the manipulations of some behind-the-scenes tinkering to make the movie more "normal".
The most visible scars occur when our hero Stu  Miley (Brendan Fraser, who is quickly becoming a great comedic actor) first arrives in Monkeybone's nightmare land.
Chris Kattan is outstanding, providing some hilarious, "Re-Animator"-style hi-jinx as "Organ Doner Stu", Dave Foley is also funny as Stu's manager, and Whoopie Goldberg is really good as Death, whose head explodes when she gets mad.But the real stars here are the fantasy characters who inhabit the nightmare town.
Starting and ending with cartoons about the titular character 'Monkey Bone' this is a hilarious and visually stunning film.It is NOT a film for children  so don't let the television adverts fool you into thinking that it is a delightful animated romp in the park for kids.
The first cartoon sequence explains  in graphic detail  how the character of 'Monkey Bone' got his name; and it is not something that can be repeated in this forum.Unfortunately, when I went to the matinée the audience was primarily children.When Stu Miley (S Miley  get it?) is tricked into staying in the 'Downunder' (the place where people in a coma go to) to provide nightmares for the denizens of 'Downunder' the film becomes much too frightening for children; but more visually elaborate and stimulating for adults.The sound track starts out strong and only gets better.Brendan Fraser is wonderful as Stu the comic book author who has a very dark side to him.
Bridget Fonda is underutilized as Dr Julie McElroy the sweet and good-natured girlfriend of Stu. Megan Mullally as Kimmy, Stu's sister who wants to pull the plug on Stu (though it is never real clear why) essentially reprises her role as 'Karen' from the television show 'Will and Grace'  but she is always a delight to watch.Rose McGowan ('Scream') is a visual treat as Kitty  the lone citizen of 'Downunder' that is willing to assist Stu in returning to the real world.
Whoopi Goldberg is fabulous as Death  just the right amount of sly wickedness that you would expect of an embodied death.But Chris Kattan does a real star turn as the Organ Doner  his physical comedy and outrageous antics as a recently deceased gymnast are truly riotous and quite different from the characters he has played in past films or currently plays on Saturday Night Live  it is worth seeing this film just for his performance.The plot is actually fairly complicated and the graphics and visual style are brilliant and mind-blowing; but again, this is not a film for children.
The movie really consists of two main parts: Stu down in Hell (although not quite dead yet in real life), trying to find a way back up; and Stu back on terra firma, trying to Save The Day. What connects the two parts is that the nefarious Monkeybone, who's ostensibly been helping Stu to get an "exit pass" has actually schemed to return to the land of the living himself - in Stu's body.
You see, instead of Barney or the like they wanted Monkeybone over and over.And anyone who thinks kids shouldn't watch it needs to lighten up.(Someone actually thought the opening sequence about a kid getting an erection over his teachers arm fat was too inappropriate to mention.
Henry Selick, the genius behind similar movies like "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "James and the Giant Peach," once again uses a variety of eye-popping, indulgent gimmickry to provide a delight for the senses.
Model puppets, elaborate set designs, computer animation, stop-action photography, claymation, convincing and complex makeup, far out costumes and even some nifty voice effects preside the entertainment of "Monkey Bone." Selick creates a world so full of energy and inventive characters that it justifies the movie's existence.
His long time girlfriend, Julie (Bridget Fonda), comforts, loves him and is ecstatic when Stu's cartoon primate creation, Monkeybone, a wisecracking and obscene libido portraiture, becomes a national television show.
The carnival-like realm inhabits a variety of unusual characters, like Kitty (Rose McGowan from "Jawbreaker") an attractive waitress dressed in a feline furnish, Hypnos (Giancarlo Esposito) the half-man, half-goat ruler of Downtown, Death (Whoopi Goldberg) the cynical head honcho who determines the visitor's fate, and even the concoction of his own  imagination-the aggravating nuisance himself: Monkeybone (voiced by John Turturro).
The movie begins with a short `Monkeybone' cartoon, a pilot created from a popular comic strip written by Stu Miley (Brendan Fraser), which has just been picked up by Comedy Central and contracted for a number of episodes.
Monkeybone himself (with voice provided by John Turturro sounding like he's been inhaling helium), is-- far from being funny, cute or endearing in any way, shape or form-- an annoying little spud who grates on the senses from the moment he appears on screen, which beyond the opening cartoon, begins with Stu's descent into `Down Town,' the land of nightmares residing within his own mind into which he slips when a freak accident puts him in a coma.
Monkeybone(2001) 4 out of 10, 1st watched 6/4/05 Dir-Henry Selick:Goofy, only mildly funny unique movie about a cartoonist who goes into a comma and comes back as his cartoon character(his alter ego), monkeybone, with disastrous results.
You have, Downtown, the pre-death nightmare land filled with goofy creatures coming out of his dreams, and then the live-action world of real life that he first comes into as Monkeybone in his own body and then later as himself in a practically dead corpse of a prior gymnast's body played by Chris Katten.
As many might have expected, Henry Selick, director of such visual eye-candy productions as "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "James and the Giant Peach", delivers - with this dark and wicked new film.Monkeybone is the kind of film people want to see these days at the movies.
Not only are the visual effects incredible but the esemble cast as well.Brendan Fraser ("The Mummy", "Gods and Monsters") stars at Stu Miley, the slightly independent shy cartoonist, making it to the top with his newest comic creation, 'Monkeybone'.
Monkeybone is purely one of the great films of 2001 - filled with witty humor, an excellent cast (and crew!), and incredible scenery and other eye-candy for all audiences..
I also like Brendan Fraser, Chris Kattan, and Whoopi Goldberg, and had the pleasure to see a scene of this movie being filmed while I was in L.A.I went to this film not knowing what to expect.
Brendan Fraser needs to start making more better films and funnier ones like he did in Bedazzled.
One is that the animation was crisp and had barely any flaws in that and the other is that some scenes were funny like when Brendan Fraser is making out with that girl on the bed and others but that was it.
A cringe and groan inducing mess that is certainly my official pick for worst movie ever made.Brendan Fraser stars as a successful cartoonist who falls into a coma after an accident, the details of which are too stupid to mention, and ends up in a parallel universe inside his mind where he meets his creation Monkeybone (voiced by John Turturro).
Fraser (still in his own head we think), makes a plea to Death, played by Whoopi Goldberg and is loaned a body to win back his girl before Monkeybone gets his dirty ape hands on her.Co-stars Bridget Fonda, Megan Mullally, Dave Foley, Rose McGowan and Chris Kattan round-up an unremarkable list of "talent" that were hired to stand behind stop-motion models and in front of rejected Beetlejuice sets.
There are too many films like this, dumbed down to appeal to everyone, inoffensive and unstimulating.The plot is predictable as are the jokes, there is nothing new, the good guy wins and there is a happy ending, a load of "hilariously funny" sketches fill in the gaps.
He proved this talent when he directed "A Nightmare Before Christmas" (It's a shame so many fans of that movie just assume Tim Burton directed it and ignore Selick's achievement.) and made great use of his team of talented animators to bring Burton's original idea to life.
Brendan Fraser is actually fairly likable as Stu Miley (However when Monkeybone takes over his body, he becomes annoying and only makes Monkeybone's character more annoying as well.) and Selick has once again brought on board tons of playful and creative visuals.
There is also a genuinely disturbing (Yet memorable) scene in which Stu is forced into one of the nightmares that he himself painted years ago, where Selick shows off yet another fantastic visual effect that only makes me wish the films script was redeemable.However, when the film takes place in our world - it is clumsily directed and is made twice as painful to sit through due to the lack of any creative visuals.
Monkeybone was already annoying in the underworld, but when he takes Stu's body - actor Brendan Fraser goes from likable to cringe worthy.
The comments of jhclues of Salem make me think that he's stuck in his own nightmare and simply fails to see the fabulous insight the writers, cast and crew bring to this, in my opinion, very funny picture.Brendan Fraser, to my mind, is really an amazing and very under appreciated actor who has a remarkable gift for physical acting and comedy.
However when push comes to shove, it is Monkeybone that escapes back into the real world to put his evil plot into action.For the first thirty minutes or so of this film I was wondering why it didn't have better ratings on this site because I actually found it very enjoyable.
After James and The Giant Peach and The Nightmare Christmas, Henry Selick left Burton's style of animation and tried to pursue his 'own' 'kid-friendly' career in film-making.
Monkeybone escapes from the underworld where death holds court.With places like 'The Coma Bar,' I was laughing because it was ironic because I almost fell into a coma watching this movie.
From beauty and charm to screen presence, Fonda has created a repertoire of talents to utilize in comedies or dramas; however, she fails to convince me that her performance was great."Monkeybone" is an insult to fans, actors and directors alike because it is one of the worst movies ever made and should have been left on the cutting room floor.
Brendan Fraser, Bridget Fonda and Whoopi Goldberg all have one thing in common; they star in one of the worst films released in 2001.
Brendan Fraser, Bridget Fonda and Whoopi Goldberg all have one thing in common; they star in one of the worst films released in 2001.
"Monkeybone" is the perfect example for movie studios to re-examine standards for stamping their approval on films with no story, character development and extremely bad writing."Monkeybone" revolves around the life of Stu Miley, a cartoonist who has created a comic strip featuring Monkeybone, who has become a nusence for Stu. With a beautiful girlfriend at his side and a successful comic strip becoming a national television show, fate steps in to take it away from him.
"Monkeybone" is the perfect example for movie studios to re-examine standards for stamping their approval on films with no story, character development and extremely bad writing."Monkeybone" revolves around the life of Stu Miley, a cartoonist who has created a comic strip featuring Monkeybone, who has become a nusence for Stu. With a beautiful girlfriend at his side and a successful comic strip becoming a national television show, fate steps in to take it away from him.
The best example of this occurred with the appearance of comedian Chris Kattan as a recently dead gymnast whose body is taken over by Stu.My thoughts were how could the director cast someone like this; but then I remembered it was a stupid movie to begin with.I have always enjoyed watching Fraser because he has built a body of work.
The best example of this occurred with the appearance of comedian Chris Kattan as a recently dead gymnast whose body is taken over by Stu.My thoughts were how could the director cast someone like this; but then I remembered it was a stupid movie to begin with.I have always enjoyed watching Fraser because he has built a body of work.
From beauty and charm to screen presence, Fonda has created a repetoire of talents to utilize in comedies or dramas; however, she fails to convince me that her performance was great."Monkeybone" is an insult to fans, actors and directors alike because it is one of the worst movies ever made and should have been left on the cutting room floor.
Brendan Fraser plays at least two characters in this film, with his body inhabited by his alter-ego, Monkeybone, at one point.
Ok. I will admit that "Monkeybone" isn't a very good movie but I only bought it because Chris Kattan was in it.
The movie had potential to be very entertaining, but it seems like a lot wasn't shot or was cut out(especially when you look at the extra scenes on the DVD).
I left the movie theater feeling thoroughly entertained and wonderfully surprised!There is no doubt that "Monkeybone" would not appeal to everyone, but it is superbly brought to life by Brendan Fraser.
This is the best movie I've seen since "The Nightmare Before Christmas." Not is it only visually stunning with an amazing soundtrack (The best scene being where Stu is entering purgatory via roller coaster--the swelling of Anne Dudley's "Welcome to Downtown" is almost orgasmatic) but the story line is creative, the characters are lovable (Monkeybone is a great character--you love to hate him!
In these tame, toothless cinematic times, one has to give credit to Twentieth Century Fox for even releasing a film like "Monkeybone", Henry Selick's epically bizarre fantasy-comedy.
Like a Ralph Bakshi nightmare without the hardcore animal sex, Selick's film is strange, surreal, slightly disturbing, and, at certain intervals, fine and clever fun.Stu Miley (Brendan Fraser) is an example of the healing power of art, having battled back from depression and almost paralyzing nightmares by channelling his horrors into an anarchic cartoon alter ego named Monkeybone, who wreaks havoc through the pages of an underground comic book.
It's now up to Stu's soul, trapped Downtown, to get out and reclaim his body before Monkeybone turns the world into an army of out-of-control id-monsters like himself.As you can probably already tell, this film is not your standard cookie-cutter Hollywood product.
"Monkeybone" stars Brendan Fraser and Bridget Fonda, two very likeable and talented actors, and features impressive sets and costumes.So what happened?Well, there's the story:  Cartoonist Stu Miley (Fraser) is on top of the world.
The sets, costumes, and animation were very imaginative, and the acting was riotous (Brendan Fraser and Chris Kattan outdo themselves in performance), but the film as a whole is a failure in its mission to enrich our imaginations.Henry Selick really is a great director-- The Nightmare Before Christmas and the animated short Devil Went Down to Georgia are fascinating works of animation.
Chris Kattan's work as the "dead" athlete is itself a great bit of physical comedy; Dave Foley was fine as Herb, the money-mad manager (no one can say that Dave can't convincingly portray someone who's gone nuts.) Brendan Fraser did a good job as Stu Miley but then, even if he weren't a good actor (which he definitely is) his prettyboy face and greater than average height would make him an engaging screen presence.In all, you should see this film if you're a fan of Fraser's or if you want to see some fantastic special effects.
Brendan Fraser gets sucked into a nightmare world (and the only thing nightmarish about it is the fact that the audience can't get out) whilst Monkeybone well, just annoys you.