A suicidal man and a woman living as a monkey embark on a cross-country journey that blends absurd humor with a poignant exploration of personal pain. The film follows Roy, a depressed radio host, who is pulled from the brink of suicide by a woman who communicates almost exclusively through a crude, outspoken monkey persona.
Forced together, they travel in a cramped camper van, their destination a Colorado lake where she dreams of starting a business. Roy, meanwhile, is driven by his own desperate plan involving his late father’s grave. Their escape is complicated by the pursuit of her abusive stepfather, adding urgency to their already volatile dynamic.
While the premise generates consistent laughter, the story is anchored by the characters’ profound trauma. The monkey costume becomes a shield, a way to compartmentalize a painful past and a fractured identity. As the journey progresses, the line between the human and the persona blurs, leading to moments of unexpected intimacy and raw emotional connection.
The film successfully balances its comedic and dramatic elements, delivering a narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining. It is a unique and compelling examination of how people create alter egos to survive, and what happens when those personas demand a life of their own.
