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The Ape

  • 2005
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
4.3/10
1K
YOUR RATING
The Ape (2005)
High-Concept ComedyComedyDrama

A young writer, nearing a mental breakdown caused by his family and boss, moves into an apartment occupied by a walking, talking, foul-mouthed ape in a Hawaiian shirt and Converse High Tops.A young writer, nearing a mental breakdown caused by his family and boss, moves into an apartment occupied by a walking, talking, foul-mouthed ape in a Hawaiian shirt and Converse High Tops.A young writer, nearing a mental breakdown caused by his family and boss, moves into an apartment occupied by a walking, talking, foul-mouthed ape in a Hawaiian shirt and Converse High Tops.

  • Director
    • James Franco
  • Writers
    • James Franco
    • Merriwether Williams
  • Stars
    • James Franco
    • Brian Lally
    • Allison Bibicoff
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    4.3/10
    1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • James Franco
    • Writers
      • James Franco
      • Merriwether Williams
    • Stars
      • James Franco
      • Brian Lally
      • Allison Bibicoff
    • 18User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos11

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    Top cast11

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    James Franco
    James Franco
    • Harry Walker
    Brian Lally
    Brian Lally
    • The Ape
    Allison Bibicoff
    Allison Bibicoff
    • Cathy
    Stacey Miller
    Stacey Miller
    • Beth
    Vince Jolivette
    Vince Jolivette
    • Steve
    Nori Jill Phillips
    Nori Jill Phillips
    • Judy
    Danny Molina
    Danny Molina
    • Raoul
    David Markey
    • Flies With Eagles
    Sydney DeMarco
    • Girl in office
    Anthony W. Preston
    Anthony W. Preston
    • David
    • (uncredited)
    Dan Sackenheim
    • Man in Cafeteria
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • James Franco
    • Writers
      • James Franco
      • Merriwether Williams
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews18

    4.31K
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    Featured reviews

    10PLKing1986-1

    An Amazing Film

    I just recently saw The Ape in Austin, and I absolutely loved it. To any who might doubt James Franco's ability behind the camera, this film will completely change you perspective. It was expertly filmed. The use of music to create almost a dance with the camera takes was wonderfully done each time. Perhaps my favorite part of this movie, however, is the actual script. Written by Franco himself, as well as Merriwether Williams, the writer of Sponge Bob Squarepants, it was originally a play, but it transferred well to the screen. Labeled a comedy/drama, each scene, no matter the situation, seems realistic and understandable. It is difficult to create a film that can make you both laugh while feeling complete pity, but this one does it effortlessly. Naturally, Franco's portrayal of the down and confused Harry is nothing short of awesome. The ending was a bit predictable, but this takes little from the impressiveness of the film. I give it a 9.
    10jms1032

    It's like Snakes on a Plane, but even better

    A comic gem, tongue-in-cheek, dark, humorously constructed. I don't even like James Franco but this film changes everything. He's high in half of the scenes (you think I'm kidding? he is literally stoned in at least 2 i distinctly remember...you know red swollen eyes and all that) not every movie is the Godfather, not every movie needs to be. not every comedy needs to be Annie Hall, i'd watch this 1000 times before i'd ever watch Date Movie, Scary Movie, Epic Movie, Buddy Comedy Movie, Adventure Movie, Porn Spoof Movie, any of those Wayans brothers or Rob Schneider or David Spade vehicles...it's legitimately hilarious and it doesn't retard its audience (okay so there is a feces-throwing scene, but it's about an ape, that's inevitable) also the whole thing with him being an "ARTISTE!" it's brilliant...James Franco: A+ friend Bravo.
    1kenzkenz

    The worst film I've ever seen...

    Sadly, quite possibly the worst movie I've ever seen. How it got made is beyond me. Atrocious idea, Hideous execution... The acting is pretty awful. James Franco spends half the movie with his eyes closed, hopefully trying to erase the whole experience and idea from his mind (unfortunately, it's impossible for the viewer). This movie feels very home made, with poor camera angles. There are a few pretty funny lines and one scene even manages to be downright hilarious. But it's not enough to save this work of 'art.' For a movie so obsessed with creating art, it's beyond me how Mr. Franco could honestly give this to the movie going (renting, actually, as I don't believe it ever went to theatres.. Not really a shocker) public. James Franco seriously needs to redeem himself somehow after this heinous contribution to the cinema canon. And I'm (maybe I was? I was so appalled by this movie that I'm not sure anymore) a fan of his. Do NOT rent this.
    2oaattiya

    Did Hal Warren possess James Franco?

    Okay, a movie for James Franco, also directed and written by Franco. It's about a working man who dreams to be a writer, so he rents an apartment to write his novel in peace, only to find that the apartment is occupied by a big foul-mouthed gorilla.

    The presentation itself is good, interesting idea. However, through an hour and a half, all I gained from watching it is time wasting. It seemed that the film was done by amateurs; bad shooting, bad story, dialog is done poorly, and most of all bad acting, in fact Mr. Franco adds to the agony in this film by being a bad actor himself.

    What chance did that film had to make it? By what it has now, none. Its only chance if it was done in different time (like in the forties and fifties, with remodeled storyline of course), or a cartoon film with family oriented dialog.

    For me, zero stars are more like it, but I gave it two because the only thing that helped me through is that I managed to turn on my childish imagination and imagine that the ape is real.
    6ardentayu

    Oddly Funny – original indie flick

    This is a pretty funny movie. James Franco is quite a comedian, which you wouldn't know from seeing some of his darker, brooding roles. Go into it keeping in mind it is a dark comedy, mostly conversational piece, indie, odd story. Harry (Franco) rents an apartment so he can get a break from his distracting family life and finally put pen to paper. The big catch is that a gorilla is already living at the apartment. The gorilla is an actor in a suit, not a real live gorilla, which I guess I would've realized was the case if I'd looked more closely at the cover art. At first I was disappointed, because I expected there would be a real monkey in the movie. I quickly got over that because the actor in the gorilla suit was quite funny and crude.

    It does get a bit repetitive and there are very few locations, so I did begin getting bored mid-way through after my initial reaction to the uniqueness of the story began to wear off. I imagine it was a hilarious stage play (which it was adapted from), but I do think it probably loses some of its charm in translation to the screen. I believe it was a one-act play, so they had to "pad" the story a bit to make it long enough to be a movie. It probably would be strongest in one-act length (45 minutes or so).

    Overall, it is unique and I laughed out loud many times. You can watch it and analyze some "deeper" meaning because there are definitely layers of metaphor throughout the story…or you can just watch it and laugh.

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    Related interests

    Jim Carrey in Liar Liar (1997)
    High-Concept Comedy
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      James Franco's directional debut
    • Connections
      Featured in Comedy Central Roasts: Comedy Central Roast of James Franco (2013)
    • Soundtracks
      The Cuckoos in the Wood
      Written by Camille Saint-Saëns (as Camille Saint-Saens)

      Provided by: Associated Production Music LLC

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    FAQ15

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 18, 2005 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Sağduyu
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Rabbit Bandini Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $225,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 30m(90 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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