What’s summer without a breezy, paradise-set murder-mystery? Enter Bad Monkey, an adaptation of Carl Hiaasen’s bestselling cult novel and the latest effort from Ted Lasso and Shrinking creator Bill Lawrence. With a similarly quirky blend of eccentrics as those shows, this ten-episode dark comedy joins the swelling roster of murder-mystery shows on Apple TV+ (see also: The Afterparty, Bad Sisters, and most recently, Presumed Innocent).
Channelling the likes of Dexter and Death In Paradise, this is a solidly entertaining crime-solving caper which trades heavily in nicely gripping twists and turns, as it delves deep into the greed and corruption in both the Florida Keys and The Bahamas. What begins as a local case involving a severed limb discovered on a fishing trip quickly balloons into an increasingly absurd investigation, complete with cons, Russian mobs, crooked cops and voodoo magic. Some viewers, it’s fair to say, may need to suspend a fair bit of disbelief as that ridiculousness escalates.
It all might feel unwieldy, were it not tidily tied together with a hilarious voice-over.
Indeed, your enjoyment of the series will undoubtedly hinge on how on board you are with the lead actor. As the ex-Miami PD detective-turned-food inspector Yancy, Vince Vaughn is Vince Vaughn-ing all over the shop here, his signature smart-ass persona working at overdrive. He’s rarely been stronger, and there is a terrific cast to bolster him, the show shining best when exploring the dynamics of its quirky, endearing oddball ensemble.
Michelle Monaghan has an absolute blast as the bonkers Bonnie, who has some bizarre encounters with the law; Deadpool & Wolverine’s Rob Delaney chews scenery as a villainous two-bit con man; and Yancy’s relationship with his partner Rogelio (John Ortiz) adds a surprisingly charming element, finding genuine depth and affection, unusual in such a traditionally masculine relationship. But it’s Jodie Turner-Smith who steals the show here with a powerhouse performance as the complex, mysterious Dragon Queen on the Bahamian island of Andros. It all might feel unwieldy, were it not tidily tied together with a hilarious voice-over courtesy of the gruff-voiced Tom Nowicki.
The intertwining murder-mystery narrative cleverly ties together two parallel arcs, both involving greedy real-estate developers, which neatly come together towards the end of the series. As in the novel, the mystery is unfortunately resolved surprisingly fast, and you sense that two or three episodes might have been shaved off the ten-episode run for a more condensed story. But it’s testament to the strength of the writing, world-building and performances that it is straightforwardly enjoyable just spending time in this madcap world.