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Parents' Guide to

Monkeybone

By Scott G. Mignola, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Starts out bad and gets progressively worse.

Movie PG-13 2002 88 minutes
Monkeybone Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 4 parent reviews

CSMContentDefault
CSMContentDefault Adult
January 8, 2017
age 18+

Creepy as Heck!

I saw this in a restaurant a few years back, and the imagery haunted me. Here's what little creepy or disturbing parts I can remember: a woman's "arm flab" going all the way down to the floor (cartoon sequence) a cyclops (computer animated or puppet, much creepier than what's seen in kiddy shows); Medusa (live-action); a man's head going into his body like a turtle does (live-action) Besides the imagery, the storyline itself is creepy. A cartoon character trying to take over his artist? Good grief! Do your eyes and brain a hee-yuge favor; watch something else. (P.S., sorry if some details are off)

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
zeekattacklee
zeekattacklee Adult
August 15, 2015
age 14+

Monkey bone review..

I enjoyed it's creative aspect.. On the other hand,the film does have plenty of sexual humor and it's bits of adult content.. Other than that, don't let this film fool you with the way it looks.. Otherwise, Great film for older teenagers and adults..

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Stu Miley (Brendan Fraser) is a cartoonist whose vulgar creation, Monkeybone, has become very popular, making Stu himself a celebrity. On the verge of the launch of a TV series based on Monkeybone, Stu is in an accident that puts him in a coma. He finds himself in a place called Dark Town, a place where the comatose go while waiting to regain consiousness or die. Dark Town is also home to fictional characters, and Stu meets his vulgar creation. When Monkeybone set out to take over Stu's body, Stu must find a way to stop him.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4 ):
Kids say (3 ):

The painful truth is that Monkeybone starts out bad and gets progressively worse as the hope of even the most meager payoff disintegrates. If you enjoy the most juvenile kind of erection- and orifice-based humor, or games of keep-away played with human internal organs, or the notion of seeing Brendan Fraser (George of the Jungle) sing "Brick House" and get pantsed by an orangutan, then you just might get your money's worth out of MONKEYBONE. But be warned: These things sound funnier than the movie ever manages to make them. What's more, the mix of live action, animation, puppetry, and wild funhouse scenery never lives up to its intriguing promise, not just because the effects are less than convincing, but because in adapting Kaja Blackley's graphic novel Dark Town, screenwriter Sam Hamm fails to intrigue us on any level. The string of gags he delivers in place of a story is too lame even to satisfy thirteen-year-olds looking for a few cheap laughs.

Director Henry Selick, whose genius with stop-motion effects is evidenced by his films James and the Giant Peach and The Nightmare Before Christmas, seems to needs producer Tim Burton close by to keep him on course. For some, Rose McGowan in a cleavage-revealing cat suit will provide some pleasant diversion, but Whoopi Goldberg as Death? Somebody obviously thought the mere idea of it was so hilarious that they didn't need to give her anything funny to do.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the appeal of this movie and crude comedy in general. Were there parts of the film you found more offensive than funny? Would you seek out other movies like this or stick to lighter comedy fare?

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