Weekly Dip: Will Monkey Man Make an Action Star out of Dev Patel?

Blockbuster season has arrived, whether we want it or not. Studios jumping the gun on summer releases might explain the somewhat anemic state of this week's Box Office:

1. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (Weekend gross £4.1 million)
2. Kung Fu Panda 4 (Weekend gross £3.9 million)
3. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (Weekend gross £2.1 million)
4. Dune Part Two (Weekend gross £1.7 million)
5. Mother's Instinct (Weekend gross £267, 741)

A respectable second week for Ghostbusters even if it was leapfrogged by the two new franchises in town. Godzilla x Kong (the 'x' is silent) ramaging into first place just goes to show that despite the accusations of empty spectacle, this series really does have legs (300ft tall ones in fact). Critical consensus seems to be that Kung Fu Panda didn't really need a fourth chapter and yet it's performance suggests that it still has a lot of goodwill carried over from the first three. That and the lucrative nature of forcing a parent or guardian to shell out for extra tickets. Mother's Instinct is the real underperformer of the week, averaging just £577 per venue over the bank holiday weekend. An unsurprising turnout for a seemingly dour family drama with only the reliable talents of Anne hathaway and Jessica Chastain to serve as selling points.

Taken as a whole none of the entries broke the bank in any significant way, despite the school holiday. New Empire's takings matching those of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire from the previous, which as we covered was less than half of what Dune Part Two netted during a regular weekend. Maybe it's still too early in the year to expect major returns from big blockbusters, maybe audiences aren't especially keen on the current offerings. Whatever the reason it doesn't bode well for studios that insist on spending the GDP of small countries on these films in the hope of seeing a profit.  

Combat Monkey: Dev Patel the Action Star

Dev Patel has been an quietly ascendent talent in British film for decades now. So much so that it's kind of remarkable he hasn't peaked yet. Making his debut as the dorky Muslim teen Anwar in the tv series Skins, Patel quickly demonstrated his ability to carry a feature with Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire. Since then he's stretched his unassuming presence to the limit with simialr roles in films like Chappie, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and the short-lived TV drama The Newsroom. The peak of this persona was arguably The Personal History of David Copperfield, Armando Ianucci's 2019 adaptation of the Dicken's novel. Patel's Copperfield was at once vulnerable, capeable, funny and romantic, showing off the kind of range most actors only dream of. 

Yet, despite Mr Nice Guy being Patel's bread and butter he has flexed his action chops in roles that demand greater intensity. Starting with the role of Prince Zuko in 2010's The Last Airbender, The Green Knight and The Wedding Guest, which might be the first time he's been postioned as an action star in a feature. An astounding prospect considering his versilitiy. In addition to being a talented actor Patel is also a 1st Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo, his proficency for martial arts was even used for a gag in the first series of Skins. So it's kind of amazing that few films have tried to utilise Patel in more action-heavy roles. Especially considering the current state of the Western film industry.

Over the last few decades Hollywood has largely done a pisspoor job of cultivating new Action Heros for the modern eras. The Geri-Action Movie has become something of a recurring joke as a result of this; franchises like The Equalizer, Taken and Expendables, built around retirement age actors. While this move presents challenges (the budget for the last Indiana Jones inflated wildly due to the cost of making the 82 year old Harrison Ford move like a fortysomething) they consistently turn a profit because the actors involved can still sell tickets on their name alone. Newer names just don't have the pull of a Denzel or a Stallone. Despite the emergence of major physical talents like Zac Efron, Channing Tatum and Margot Robbie, they've usually relied on comedic subversions of action movie tropes. Or brand recognition as Robbie has managed to achieve full-on superstar status in part due to leveraging the DC Comics brand with her recurring role as Harley Quinn.

None of which provides fertile ground for an unassuming talent like Patel to be seen in the same context. Especially when his one big IP role was in the disaster that was The Last Airbender. Yet it's clearly something he's wanted to pursue as now we have Monkey Man, a film descibed as 'John Wick in Mumbai' that Patel directed and cast himself in. It's disappointing that Patel's been so underserved that he's felt the need to create his own opportunity to play the action, as exciting as the film looks. All we can do is hope that the film makes a big enough splash that the Hollywood sees the man's potential for bone-crunching thrills.

If not, well, it won't be the first time they've completely failed to see the obvious.