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Spanking the Monkey

Name: Spanking the Monkey
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Released: 1994-01-15
Cast: Jeremy Davies, Alberta Watson, Benjamin Hendrickson, Carla Gallo, Matthew Puckett

1994 | 106 min | Comedy, Drama

Saturday Specialearly rating

Why it’s a Saturday Special

It earned strong reviews (92% on Rotten Tomatoes). A strong pick for the weekend.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it: Made for anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved Terms of Endearment or Happiness, start here.
The mood: Funny with heart.
The pace: Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 46 min.
What might put you off: Nothing much for most grown-ups.

Bright young student Raymond Aibelli is forced to sidetrack an important medical internship because his mother, Susan, is recovering from a broken leg. When he isn't tasked with the most mundane aspects of Susan's recuperation, Raymond finds distraction in a neighborhood girl, Toni Peck. But, as Susan begins relying on her son for both physical and emotional needs, Raymond starts developing disturbing and unwanted new yearnings.

How it earned its rating

CriticsStrong
92% on Rotten Tomatoes, 66 on Metacritic
AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
AwardsWeak
1 win and 0 nominations from smaller awards and festivals
Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 64K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by David O. Russell

Jeremy DaviesRay Aibelli
Alberta WatsonSusan Aibelli
Benjamin HendricksonTom Aibelli
Carla GalloToni Peck
Matthew PuckettNicky
Judette JonesAunt Helen
Zak OrthCurtis
Josh Philip WeinsteinJoel
Judah DomkeDon
Lleana StrattonFran Gibson