Monkey Wretches: A total mess, in the best way possible

Wait, do you actually like slapstick?

If you have no patience for cartoon-logic chaos, skip this one. You will probably hate the constant noise. But if you grew up watching old shorts where things just break for no reason, you might get a kick out of how quickly the shop goes from organized to a total disaster zone. 🐒

Oswald is the poor guy at the center of it all. Honestly, watching him try to maintain his dignity while monkeys climb over his inventory is kind of a mood. He just wants a quiet day at the shop, but the universe clearly had other plans.

The monkeys are absolute agents of anarchy. They don't have motivations beyond causing problems, which is honestly refreshing. It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in Towed in a Hole, where you just know the main character is going to end up covered in something messy by the end of the scene.

Oddly specific details

• The way the monkeys handle the antiques is impressively destructive.
• Oswald's facial expressions are peak 'I am so done with this day.'
• There is a moment where a stack of plates just sits there, and you *know* it’s going to be obliterated. It’s perfect tension.

The pacing is fast. Maybe too fast. It doesn't give you time to breathe, but that's the point, I guess. It feels like the filmmakers just wanted to see how much stuff they could throw at the screen before the credits rolled.

Is it a masterpiece? Hardly. It is just a goofy little flick that knows exactly what it is. Sometimes you don't need a deep story. Sometimes you just need to watch someone pay a ridiculous amount of money to get three monkeys out of their store. 🍌

It’s not as polished as something like Whipsaw, but it’s got way more fur and broken glass. If you’re looking for something that won't make you think too hard, pull up a chair. Just don't expect the shop to stay in one piece.