Monkeybone cover art

Monkeybone Details

2001 Certificate 12
  • Rated:
  • 50
  • from 781 members

MONKEY BONE, directed by Henry Selick (JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH, THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS), is a fantasy adventure that combines live action, stop motion, claymation miniatures, puppets, and computer imaging. Monkeybone is a cartoon character created by a successful comic book illustrator named Stu Miley (Brendan Fraser)... Read more

Starring Bridget Fonda, Brendan Fraser, Whoopi Goldberg, Chris Kattan
Director Henry Selick
Genres Comedy

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Monkeybone

MONKEY BONE, directed by Henry Selick (JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH, THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS), is a fantasy adventure that combines live action, stop motion, claymation miniatures, puppets, and computer imaging. Monkeybone is a cartoon character created by a successful comic book illustrator named Stu Miley (Brendan Fraser). (He wears a coat with the tag S. Miley, which is a good hint at the film's brand of pun-filled humour.) On the night that Stu is going to propose marriage to his girlfriend, Julie (Bridget Fonda), a freak accident throws him into a coma. Though he appears unconscious, lying in a hospital bed, he is actually having the strangest experience of his lifetime inside his own head. Trapped in a bizarre amusement park called Downtown, the land where nightmares are stored, Stu comes face to face with a living version of the small, mischievous Monkeybone (a stop-action paraffin sculpture voiced by John Turturro). The other inhabitants of Downtown are either part-humans like the seductive cat woman, Kitty (Rose McGowan) and the mysterious face of Death (Whoopi Goldberg), or beasts--cyclops, minotaurs, and centaurs. While dodging obstacles from his own nightmares, Stu strives to break out of his coma and return to his true love. Little does he know, Monkeybone has plans of his own.

Starring Bridget Fonda, Brendan Fraser, Whoopi Goldberg, Chris Kattan, David Foley, Giancarlo Esposito, Megan Mullally
Director Henry Selick
Studio 20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time DVD: 1 hr 28 mins
Certificate Certificate 12
Genres Comedy
Language DVD: English
Hearing-impaired English
Released DVD: 07 Jan 2002
Production year: 2001
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews (3) of Monkeybone

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  • 3 stars out of 5

    Darkly funny films sometimes work fabulously well (as with Beetle Juice), but often the mix of quirky comedy and gallows humour can be at odds with each other, as is the case in this strange little film from the director of A Nightmare before Christmas, Henry Selick. Brendan Fraser stars as cartoonist Stu Miley, who, following a freak accident, ends up comatose and trapped in a nightmare populated by weird creatures — including his cuddly but slightly racy creation, Monkeybone. The only way of escape is an exit pass from Death, but Monkeybone beats him to it and travels back to Earth to wreak havoc in Stu's body. While this definitely isn't for kids, some of the humour is very juvenile and even Fraser's comic talents can't stop the film from sliding into complete silliness. However, the mix of animation and live action is strikingly done, which is the main reason for checking out this oddity.

    • Radio Times
  • Directed by Henry Selick (Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas ) and based on Kaja Blackley's graphic novel Dark... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • Most helpful member's review of Monkeybone

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  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 1 star

    Dire

    Personally I found this film tedious almost right from the word go. The idea of having the cartoon monkey take over his masters life has such potential, but has been turned into an annoying farce rather than the comic genius it could have been. Very disappointing performance from Brendan Frasier too. If you are into silly outlandish base humour, then you might like this film, to anyone else I would say don't bother to rent this film.

      • Ellie from Nottingham
  • Most recent members' review of Monkeybone

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  • 1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

    Rated - 3 stars

    < < Interesting comedy theme > >

    Very much enjoyed the film. I agree with previous review film was a bit difficult to follow at times due to it jumping from one aspect to another without explanation. It was a pity that it did get confusing at times, overall enjoyed the film due to the storyline being so interesting and making you think. Imagine living your worst nightmare!!!! Scary thought but what if !!!!

      • A customer from Wales
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Rating breakdown

781 Member ratings
  • 100
51
  • 90
26
  • 80
46
  • 70
72
  • 60
121
  • 50
109
  • 40
100
  • 30
93
  • 20
114
  • 10
49

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