APE VS. MONSTER (2021)

 

PHENOMENALITY: *marvelous*
MYTHICITY: *fair*
FRYEAN MYTHOS: *drama*
CAMPBELLIAN FUNCTION: *sociological*

APE VS MONSTER is an Asylum mockbuster of the same year's big-budget GODZILLA VS. KONG. Surprisingly, it's not that bad, particularly in comparison to most of the studio's output.

Now, it goes without saying that a cheap-ass monster-mockup can't compete with its big-budget model in terms of convincing FX-battles between brobdingnagian behemoths. If one wants such conflicts, one goes to the high-profile Hollywood productions. The limited FX of APE must be evaluated next to true losers like KOMODO VS. COBRA. With that in mind, though the ape of the title is underwhelming, the giant gila-- which looks a lot like the 1998 Godzilla-- isn't bad, and the climactic battle of the mammal and the reptile isn't bad, as cheap-ass monster mockups go. All the stuff that alters two Earth-animals into colossi is unremarkable, and not worth summarizing.

 But that backstory is worth mentioning for the support-cast of humans who witness the creatures' rampage. I mentioned in my review of GODZILLA VS KONG that its human characters were "bare functions of the plot," but that's not the case in APE. American scientist Linda (Arianna Scott) was loosely involved when a joint American-Russian space project launched a chimpanzee test subject into the Great Beyond. Linda had strong maternal feelings for the chimp, name of Abraham, and resented that her father, the rather-cleverly named Noah, used Abraham in the project. The two of them remained estranged for the thirteen years before the space capsule returned to Earth. Over time Linda figures out that aliens messed with the capsule-- ironically, sent forth on some vague "first contact" mission-- and arranged for the vessel to return to Earth, with Abraham infected so as to become an Amazing Colossal Ape. It's not clear if the ETs-- who remain hovering the atmosphere during all this gorilla-megilla-- think that one big ape is going to soften up the planet for conquest. It seems to be a coincidence that some of the enlarging-juice leaks out of the capsule and makes a lowly gila monster into a Giant Gila.

"Big-name" Eric Roberts has a nothing role spouting exposition, but Linda gets ample support from Eva (Katie Sereika), a Russian exchange student Linda knew in college, but who's now a Russian commando seeking to protect her country's interests in the space program. There's also a gung-ho general who wants to kill both giant creatures, even the benign Abraham, which adds a little extra tension. For once, the teaming of two efficient females in a monster-movie doesn't seem like a nod to political correctness, and Linda is given a simple but efficient character-arc, nicely portrayed by Arianna Scott. This is one area where I'm glad the filmmakers did not emulate GODZILLA VS KONG.