Tony Shalhoub revives his beloved character Detective Adrian Monk in "Mr. Munch's Last Case: A Monk Movie," a 2023 film that serves as a conclusion to the popular comedy crime-solving series "Monk." Shalhoub finds joy in reprising the role, appreciating Monk's unique character traits and the opportunity to collaborate with his fellow cast members once again.
"The first thousand times it was fun, but now it's sort of antiquated," Shalhoub mentioned in a recent CNN interview. "People used to make jokes about the super-clean Monk, now they're actually taking it seriously and bringing around sanitizing wipes."
As society reconsiders germs during the pandemic, "Monk" experienced other shifts. The show's pause for eight seasons had some adjustments, like Shalhoub's successful turn as Abe Weissman in "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel." Monk's sidekick, Sgt. trucker, was cherished by both actors and the audience.
"I love his versatility and the fact that he doesn't fit in a box. He's bewitching, but he also has flaws. He can be egotistical and sometimes oblivious to the concerns, problems, or pains of other people. I find that appealing," Shalhoub shared about Monk.
Despite having played the character for almost two decades, Shalhoub clearly enjoys the challenge of portraying Monk's complexity and vulnerabilities. The new film, airing on Peacock, finds Monk investigating a significant case involving a loved one's death.
When asked about the film's approach, Shalhoub mentioned that Monk is perceived as "not hip, not sophisticated, and he doesn't understand pop culture." This is also accurate for this series, which he admired for its low-tech approach to detective work.
"We don't rely on lots of advanced technology, computers, and devices to identify crimes. We do it in a simple way," Shalhoub mentioned. "It's a throwback to the old-fashioned style of detective work, which I enjoy."
However, the film does depart quite significantly from the show's lighthearted tone. "I'm really happy because we're stepping into some darker territory than what we generally do or what we've done in the past," Shalhoub explained. "We've decided not to make episode 126. We wanted it to feel familiar and recognizable, but we wanted to ramp up the tension by using more intense tactics."
As for whether this film truly marks Monk's "last case," Shalhoub mentioned that a potential sequel might be in the works, depending on the movie's reception and audience demand. So, prepare to say goodbye (or not!) to Monk once again when "Mr. Munch's Last Case: A Monk Movie" starts streaming on Peacock.
Additional Insights: The film features a blend of classic Monk humor with more intense narrative elements, balancing between the show's expected lightheartedness and a darker, more suspenseful tone. Some cast members, like Molly Evans, were recast and given larger roles to increase star power and add a fresh take to the character.
