Monkey Trouble poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Rev. Howard Finster, Thora Birch, Harvey Keitel, Mimi Rogers, Christopher McDonald ... see more see more... , Kevin Scannell , Victor Argo , Jo Champa , Kimberly Cullum , Alison Elliott , Marcy Goldman , John La Fayette , Adam LaVorgna , Aaron Lustig , Robert Miranda , Julie Payne , Remy Ryan , Harvey Vernon , Deborah White , Julian Johnson , Andi Chapman , Frank Lugo

A young girl secretly adopts a runaway monkey only to have to deal with the simian's mischief-making tendencies in this family comedy. Young Eva (Thora Birch)'s dreams of having a pet are frustrated b... read more read more...y the objections of her mother (Mimi Rogers) and allergic stepfather (Christopher McDonald). When she finds a stray capuchin monkey, she cannot resist it, and she keeps the animal -- which she names Dodger -- hidden in her room. Eva doesn't know that Dodger has just escaped from an evil organ grinder named Azro (Harvey Keitel, playing a regrettable Gypsy stereotype), who had trained the monkey to become an accomplished pickpocket. Old habits prove hard to break, and Dodger begins stealing everything in sight, landing Eva in plenty of trouble. Her problems are only compounded by the actions of the unscrupulous Azro, who wants to find Dodger and use him as part of an important robbery. The standard misunderstandings and slapstick comedy ensue, with the spunky Eva struggling to protect her new pet and herself. While probably too predictable to appeal to many adults, Monkey Trouble's skillful animal antics and resourceful young heroine may prove entertaining to youngsters. ~ Judd Blaise, Rovi

Flixster Users

39% liked it

28,797 ratings

Critics

55% liked it

11 critics

PG, 1 hr. 35 min.

Directed by: Franco Amurri

Release Date: March 18, 1994

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: September 3, 2002

Stats: 649 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

Monkey Trouble Monkey Trouble Monkey Trouble
Upload a Photo | View All Monkey Trouble Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (649)

  • ajv2688
    May 18, 2011
    ajv2688
    Another animal and kid movie, just as stupid as the rest, but it'll entertain the kids.
  • ScoopOnline
    November 29, 2009
    ScoopOnline
    inthebasket
  • nadyajoensen
    June 7, 2010
    nadyajoensen
    I've seen this movie many times when I was younger. Its about this troubled girl whose life takes a drastic change when she finds this pet monkey. She hides the monkey in her room so her parents won't know. When she discovers that this monkey has been trained to be a thief by a g... read moreypsy she tries to train the monkey to stop stealing. When the gypsy wants the monkey back, she tries everything to keep the monkey from him. This is a very good family movie.
  • mingsysar
    October 27, 2008
    mingsysar
    Thora Birch was one of the best ever child actors. And yes Harvey Keitel is really in this film.
  • leekyle1968
    March 10, 2008
    leekyle1968
    we actually got this movie through a box of cereal, lol and all of us enjoyed it and i think the kids still have it somewhere, the monkey used was way cute
  • latinorick71
    July 31, 2009
    latinorick71
    omg i must have seen this move at least 20 x when my nephew was a child and it took that many times in other to enjoy it.
  • firstamb
    May 15, 2009
    firstamb
    Even a young Thora Birch could not save this festering runny monkey poop from being the most awful kid's movie, with the worst message, that it was. This movie stinks.
  • phantopp
    July 28, 2008
    phantopp
    "Fingers" (Finster) is a trained monkey who pick pockets unsuspecting victims on the California Boardwalk. He works with "Azro" (Harvey Keitel), who is not nice to the monkey. "Azro" and "Fingers" get hired by a guy who may be a Mob boss who wants to use the monkey's abilities, b... read moreut the monkey escapes from "Azro" -- after leaving him a "note".

    "Eva" (Thora Birch) is a young lady from a broken home. She can't stand her younger half-brother, and loves animals. She begs her mother (Mimi Rogers) for a pet, but doesn't get her way -- until "Fingers" comes into her life.

    And with "Fingers", whom she renames "Dodger" after her favorite professional baseball team, "Azro" is not far behind -- and that's only because he wants his monkey back.

    This film is more for kids than adults. Kids will get a laugh a lot more at the jokes than the grown-ups, who will probably find the comedic situations pretty predictable. In fact, there could have been more comedic moments in this movie, but there isn't. But the comedic moments is chuckle worthy -- if you are an adult.

    Most of the adult cast is very underused in this film. There is also little development with the adult characters. The majority of the adults are just there to advance the plot. Now that I think about it, the human cast acted as if they didn't care about putting their best effort into their performances, and were only there to make a quick buck.

    Out of the entire cast, Finster stands out the most. Birch is the only human who is pretty watchable, and slowly improves her performance as the movie advances.

    When it comes to wardrobe and scenery, nothing really stands out that much at all. You can pretty much tell what took budget cuts.

    The cinematography is not good, with the exeption of a fair chase scene. It is pretty obvious that this movie is pretty low budget, and they decided to make what is see a major budget cut.

    Out of all the wardrobes, Keitel's was the most unique because it was the one with the most worn-in look. In fact, I don't think he changed his outfit at all in this movie. The rest of the cast had wardrobes that didn't stand out.

    The script is very formulaic. I have seen this movie before, with a different species as the feature animal. I've also seen this plot done much better.

    If you ask me, only rent this one if you have kids. Or, better yet, plunk your kids down in front of the television if this movie is on HBO or the Free Movie section of On Demand.
  • PeachesMcGee
    June 18, 2008
    PeachesMcGee
    I remember going to Wild Waves one time and a girl pointing at me saying 'you look like the girl from Monkey Trouble'...that girl was crazy. This movie had a monkey, yes. Monkies kick ass. This movie did not.
  • cmryan5230
    May 13, 2007
    cmryan5230
    I remember going to see this in Cincinnati. The only thing I actually remember, though, are the Sour Patch Kids. Lol. This is a dumb movie, but I liked it when I was little.

View All Monkey Trouble Reviews

Critic Reviews

Clint Morris
March 10, 2005
Clint Morris, Moviehole

Great family fun....Birch is a joy

Staci Layne Wilson
January 4, 2005
Staci Layne Wilson, StaciWilson.com

Click to read the article. Full Review

Fred Topel
July 14, 2003
Fred Topel, About.com

Above average kids movie. The girl is smart and the monkey is clever. Harvey Keitel's villain is a big surprise.

Ryan Cracknell
March 16, 2003
Ryan Cracknell, Apollo Guide

The team of Thora Birch and Finster the primate makes for light and moderately fun family viewing. Full Review

Ken Hanke
August 22, 2002
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Hey, I liked the monkey

Emanuel Levy
March 26, 2009
Emanuel Levy, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Janet Maslin
August 30, 2004
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Rita Kempley
January 1, 2000
Rita Kempley, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

March 18, 1994
Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

This list looks lonely.
Add a suggestion!

Facts

Submit a Fact | View All
    • Eva: EW! I am so not letting you eat lizards! From now on you are on a strict 'no-yuck' diet.
Submit a Fact | View All

Monkey Trouble : Watch Free on TV

Monkey Trouble Trivia

  • Ridley Scott the great almost directed this film, which film?  Answer »
  • name the actress that connects the following movies? alaska hocus pocus american beauty ghost world anywhere but here monkey trouble  Answer »
  • In "monkey trouble" Dodger is Americas most wanted klepto, trained to steal. but what does he steal?  Answer »
More Monkey Trouble Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for Monkey Trouble. Want to create one?

Video Clips

No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Meet Other Fans

Add Monkey Trouble to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?