Spring has sprung, and the dog days of January and February cinema are a middling memory. 2024 may have gotten off to a slow start, but the film rollout can only improve with summer fast approaching.

Dev Patel’s filmmaking debut, “Monkey Man,” is a promising start. The film took a minute to grip me due to some messy pacing and a surface-level narrative. But when Patel hits his stride and the blood starts gushing, the film soars. “Monkey Man” is a scrappy, high-octane action spectacle. 

You might know Patel for his breakout role in the 2008 drama “Slumdog Millionaire,” or his Oscar-nominated turn in 2016’s “Lion.” Now, starring, producing, writing and directing a feature film, his prospering presence is among the industry’s most exciting. 

Patel plays Kid, an anonymous young man who ekes out a meager living in an underground fight club. Night by night he dawns a gorilla mask and is throttled by more popular fighters for cash. When he discovers a path to infiltrate the city’s sinister elite, he unleashes a revenge campaign on the men responsible for his childhood trauma. 

Inspired by the Hindu legend Hanuman, the story is a prototypical hero’s journey. While entirely familiar and molded to service the action genre, the narrative is bolstered by its mythological roots. Patel’s glimpse into Indian culture, including a motivated political critique, adds a confident and spirited backbone to the action. The dialogue and characters might be ordinary, but they are nonetheless serviceable within such a vibrant setting.

The pace suffers in the first act, especially when juxtaposed with the frenetic nature of the second half. I found myself twiddling my thumbs, waiting for the action to arrive. I understand the film wants to give Patel’s character a fleshed-out arc, but too much time is spent away from the thrills that give “Monkey Man” its electric personality. 

However, from the choreography to the camera movement, every action sequence is an inventive, maximalist feast for the senses. Though occasionally disorienting and rough around the edges, the shot composition is ambitious, dynamic and chaotic. Zooming, teetering, panning and jolting movements capture intense, fluid fighting reminiscent of the “John Wick” franchise. It’s also littered with close-ups, framing every bead of sweat and speck of raw emotion. This go-for-broke style might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it emphatically succeeds in this exhilarating, heart-thumping context. 

The film is painted in vivid neon lights, illuminating the dim interiors and exteriors of nightclubs and city streets. While nearly the entire story takes place at nighttime, it never feels dark or gloomy. Cinematographer Sharone Meir goes the extra mile to craft consistently visually pleasing photography. 

“Monkey Man” might not be as polished as other action classics, but Patel’s talents and passions are on full display. I am beyond excited to see what he does next with such a solid debut under his belt.