Filmmaker David Lynch interrogates the Friends monkey in Netflix’s What Did Jack Do? The latest short film from one of cinema’s most enduring and bizarre talents has only just arrived on Netflix, despite having been shot back in 2016.
For some, the name David Lynch may not conjure up much recognition, but for others, the 74-year-old is known primarily for his work on the cult-hit TV series Twin Peaks, which came to an end in 1991 and was rejuvenated in 2017. However, those who’ve delved deeper into Lynch’s work know there are a multitude of films that broke new ground and left audiences dazzled, confused and downright shocked. Having arrived on the scene in 1977 with Eraserhead, Lynch went on to cement his reputation as a filmmaker who toyed with the very fabric of reality and narrative in successive films like The Elephant Man, Dune and Blue Velvet. With each film Lynch made, the worlds in which he explored seemed to become increasingly stranger and oblique. While critics have often hailed the experimental filmmaker as a sort of post new wave genius, Lynch’s work certainly wasn’t (and isn’t) for everyone. His ability to launch very un-mainstream work into the mainstream is wholly unique and it’s for this reason that he remains one of the most engaging artists in cinema today.
It’s been 14 years since Lynch last released a narrative feature film, though the return of Twin Peaks did please a certain sector of his varied fanbase. These days, the acclaimed filmmaker seems more interested in short experimental films. These aren’t often seen in any sort of widespread capacity, but Lynch’s recent What Did Jack Do? is now available to stream on Netflix. For those who make this 17-minute effort their first exposure to Lynch’s work, it will likely come as a bit confusing. Fortunately, there’s one aspect of the bizarre new short that many will find familiar - the lead role of Jack is played by none other than Marcel the monkey from Friends. Despite being credited solely as Jack Cruz, TV Guide has confirmed the monkey Lynch questions about a recent murder is indeed the famed Capuchin.
Fans of Friends will remember the emotional attachment that Ross Geller (David Schwimmer) had to his pet monkey, Marcel, and ultimately he had to give him up to the San Diego Zoo. The character eventually landed roles in several fictitious action films, even prompting Ross and the rest of the Friends gang to make a set visit in order to have one last moment with him. In Lynch’s new short, however, Marcel the monkey has been altered just enough to be mildly terrifying. His mouth has been replaced with a human one, allowing Lynch to sit at a table in a train station and have a conversation over coffee. The monkey - Jack Cruz, in this instance - is being questioned over a murder and there is much talk of right, wrong and chickens.
It is hard to believe that some 16 years after Friends has gone off the air, Marcel the monkey is still making a living in Hollywood. Capuchin monkeys apparently can live up to 45 years, meaning there is still plenty of time for more surprise roles from every Friends fan’s favorite monkey. As for Lynch’s latest short film, whether you’re a Friends fan or not, it is certainly worth spending 17-minutes on - if for no other reason that to marvel at how hilariously surreal it all is.
Source: TV Guide