MONKEYBONE, directed by Henry Selick (JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH, THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS), is a fantasy adventure that combines live action, stop motion, claymation miniatures, puppets, and computer imaging. Monkeybone is a cartoon character created by a successful comic book illustrator named Stu Miley (Brendan Fraser). (He wears a coat with the tag S. Miley, which is a good hint at the film's brand of pun-filled humor.) On the night that Stu is going to propose marriage to his girlfriend, Julie (Bridget Fonda), a freak accident throws him into a coma. Though he appears unconscious, lying in a hospital bed, he is actually having the strangest experience of his lifetime inside his own head. Trapped in a bizarre amusement park called Downtown, the land where nightmares are stored, Stu comes face to face with a living version of the small, mischievous Monkeybone (a stop-action paraffin sculpture voiced by John Turturro). The other inhabitants of Downtown are either part-humans like the seductive cat woman, Kitty (Rose McGowan) and the mysterious face of Death (Whoopi Goldberg), or beasts--Cyclops, Minotaurs, and Centaurs. While dodging obstacles from his own nightmares, Stu strives to break out of his coma and return to his true love. Little does he know, Monkeybone has plans of his own.

Related Categories:
Movies > Comedies

Related Keywords:
Fantasy
Death
Stop-Motion Animation
Theatrical Release
Animated/Live-Action

Notes:
Theatrical release: February 23, 2001. The film was originally entitled DARK TOWN and is based on the comic book of that title written by Kaja Blackley. MONKEYBONE is the furthest into the live-action realm that director Henry Selick has ever delved. Selick experimented with the main character being a weasel or a frog before settling on a monkey.

Reviews:
"...The far-out fantasy's originality is its draw....Kattan maintains his composure even while decomposing, a marvelous balancing act..." - 02/23/2001 USA Today, p.4E

"...It's a welcome antidote to the epidemic of witless [comedies]....Fraser has some splendid moments..." - 02/23/2001 New York Times, p.E10

"...Frenetic....Wacky....MONKEYBONE is packed with comic talents..." - 02/26/2001 Variety, p.39-49

"...[An] admirably eccentric comedy....There's also unruly brilliance to this dark and funny story....Fraser walks upright, lithe and blithe, an actor in touch with his inner ape..." - 03/09/2001 Entertainment Weekly, p.55

"...The kinetic Kattan bursts forth with some fantastic physical comedy..." - 05/01/2001 Box Office, p.61

"...MONKEYBONE is often giddily hilarious....David Foley is delightful..." - 04/01/2001 Sight and Sound, p.56-7

"MONKEYBONE is grand fantasy, in which Brendan Fraser and stylish design and energetic special effects play off one another for maximum fun....MONKEYBONE is well-aimed to hit you in the funny bone..." - 02/23/2001 Los Angeles Times, p.F2

Dave Foley - Actor "Kids In the Hall", etc...
Megan Mullally - American Television Actress/Singer, WILL & GRACE
Sam Hamm - Screenwriter, MONKEY BONE (2001)
Giancarlo Esposito - Actor
Brendan Fraser - American actor, JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH
Chris Kattan - Actor/SNL Veteran
Henry Selick - Director, NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS
Bill Boes - Production Designer/ MONKEYBONE (2001)
Anne Dudley
Bridget Fonda - American actress, SINGLE WHITE FEMALE
Bob Odenkirk - Stand-Up Comedian
Christopher Franciosa - Actor, MONKEY BONE (2001)
Mark Radce - Producer, MONKEYBONE (2001)
Chris Columbus - American screenwriter/director
Jon Poll - Editor, MEET THE PARENTS (2000)
Lata Ryan - Executive Producer
Kaja Blackley - Comic Book Artist/ "Dark Town", inspiration for MONKEYBONE
Mark Warner
Andrew Dunn - American Cinematographer
Rose McGowan - Actress/"Doom Generation"
Mary Pierce - Actress, MONKEY BONE (2001)
Whoopi Goldberg - Oscar-winning actress/comedian, GHOST
Caryn Johnson - Oscar-winning actress/comedian, GHOST
Michael Barnathan - Producer
John Turturro - American Actor/Director, BARTON FINK (1991)
Nicholas C. Smith - Editor