The Monkey’s Uncle Movie Review (1965)

So this post might seem like a ‘Merlin Rant’ post (as his name is brought up quite a lot. I promise there are other things that I comment on, not just Merlin). For this project, I’m focusing on the story itself, including dialogue, character development, any subplots, how a story presents itself, the speed at which it moves, if it slows down unnecessarily, etc.

A Brief Summary

(Taken from D23)

Young Merlin Jones, the legal uncle of his chimpanzee Stanley, devises a “sleep learning” machine to sharpen his “nephew’s” intellect. When Midvale College footballers Norm and Leon are in danger of being scrubbed from the team due to poor grades, Merlin produces his sleep learning machine and the two muscle-bound students soon stun all on campus by walking off with straight As. After drinking a strength potion and using it to prove man-powered flight in his bicycle-driven contraption in order to gain an endowment for the school from slightly mad Darius Green, Merlin settles down knowing that football is forever secure at Midvale.

What works

• It picks up after the events of the first movie
  • Judge reiterates Merlin’s name and college for the audience sake
  • however they withhold the info that he’s adopting a chimp for the sake of bland jokes
• one of the side plotlines is the Judge’s battle with Mr. Dearborne over the state of Midvale’s football team. Certainly one of the better aspects of the movie. It ties in well with the main plotline and the fact that Dearborne’s motivation stems from his not making the team back when he was an undergrad and Judge Holmsby making the team during that same year; it also keeps the ‘adults’ of the college relevant to the story. 
• Dearborne/Holsby banter is a well-timed and positive addition to the movie.
• Norm’s much more enjoyable a character in this movie now that he’s not an antagonist.
  • Norm ‘speaking’ as Jen during the practice exam (is that what that was? I couldn’t tell exactly what it was) was unexpected. I chuckled, but it also would have been really cool to hear Norm actually say it all himself.
• I really like that there are so few antagonists in this movie. Primary Mr. Dearborne, with Prof. Shattuck as a secondary antagonist
• Jen seems to have a bigger role in this movie than she did in the first
• When it’s revealed that Mr. Darius Green III is escaped from a mental institution, I felt so bad for Holmsby. But everything seems fine again after it’s also revealed that Darius Green III was Mr. Asterbilt who had offered Dearborn money as well. 
• In conclusion, the supporting cast was what made this storyline and movie enjoyable. Merlin had no growth whatsoever and felt old, tired, and dull throughout the movie. I’d only watch this again if I were with friends who wanted to see it. Not again on my own. 

What may or may not work

• Merlin bugs the crap out of me. He bugged me in the first movie, and he’s only worse now. And actually, there are some fun moments throughout the movie that I really enjoyed, and Merlin wasn’t in any of those moments. What follows are examples or just straight-up commentary about Merlin. Welcome to the Merlin Rant.
  • “to give him the advantages of a good home.” (early at the beginning during the courtroom scene)
    • “But you don’t have to adopt him to give him a nice clean cage and a bunch of bananas.
    • “Your honor, I want Stanley to have more than that. I want him to have a stimulating environment. I want him to have a chance to realize his full intellectual possibilities.”
  • dry, dull gags about Stanley needing to embrace culture in the form of symphonies and physics, rather than westerns and comic books. I appreciate the humor, but it falls flat with Merlin’s delivery
  • he’s a snob. he is a pretentious snob in the first movie, and he’s worse in this movie
  • His, Merlin’s, is a tired character. Over-the-top, especially in scenes where he’s trying to be the monkey’s uncle.
    • Jennifer comments on taking “a beast fresh out of the jungle,” and Merlin overreacts, covering her mouth with his hand, saying, “don’t ever say that word in front of Stanley again,” referring to ‘the jungle.’ She calls him out for being ridiculous about the chimp, and rightly so. 
  • Merlin’s forced, bad jokes when meeting sitter Lisa. I was rolling my eyes the entire time.
  • If Merlin were silent, the rest of the movie would be better
    • as long as Merlin doesn’t speak, he adds to the movie. Unfortunately, most of his lines felt forced and cringe-worthy. He could have pulled back without taking away from his character, and he wouldn’t have bugged me so much
  • Merlin is still a snob (I know I said it before, but he is, and he continues to bug me.
• While the movie does end on a humorous note, with neither side getting money, that still doesn’t solve the fundraising angle
  • 1st act: English lit exam/sleep learning
    • resolution: party/Norm/Leon/merlin getting A’s
  • 2nd Act: man-powered flight to get the 10 million dollar endowment for Midvale/intro of Darius Green III/race to fundraise money
• It really wasn’t that bad of a story. It had a decent foundation and did have enjoyable characters and moments throughout the movie.

Honorable Mentions

• Highlight: Annette singing the title song with the Beach Boys. I’ve been waiting for this movie specifically for this performance. 
• “Football is the root of all college evil.” – Mr. Dearborne.
  • I mean, what’s not to love about this line? Jokes, but still.
• Leon’s flying dream with Annette’s lullaby is a straight-up trip, and I love it.

Side Questions

• Okay, but really though….what about the money? As neither side got their endowment from “Darius Green III”, does that mean the issue is null and void?

Would I watch this movie again?

• As linked above, I’ll happily watch Annette Funicello sing with The Beach Boys, but I probably wouldn’t watch this movie of my own volition again. I won’t walk away if friends want to watch it, but I wouldn’t be the one to say “let’s watch this one”.

If you’ve seen The Monkey’s Uncle, what are some of your thoughts? Share in the comments below!

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