Monk (TV Series) Mr. Monk Goes Home Again (2005) User Reviews

Shalhoub & Turturro Make For Fascinating Brothers

[ccthemovieman-1 · 9/10 · 26 November 2006]

A little mousy-looking guy comes out of a small grocery store and follows a cop to the latter's Brinx-type vehicle, asks him for a light and then shoots and kills him. That's the opening scene.

It turns out the man never looked in the truck so robbery wasn't the motive. We then switch to the next "story" being that Monk's father, who he and his brother Ambrose haven't seen in years, is visiting to city on Halloween night and is going to meet them at Ambrose's house at 8. Just before that, with Adrian, Natalie and her daughter all at the bizarre house of the bizarre Ambrose (John Turturro), a small "Frankenstein Monster" appears at the door, clubs Ambrose over the head and takes candy. Later, the man does the same thing a bunch of kids in a park. Monk discovers the only kids robbed of their candy are the ones who visited Ambrose's house. Also, Monk discovers a the same clue that he saw at the murder scene.

What is going on? Why is this wacko stealing candy and killing someone?

This was an excellent episode, combining suspense, humor and sentimentality. There is a lot of warmth to this story. I hope Turturro and his character are in more episodes because the two he's been in have been terrific shows.

Flawed, but still good

[tcasavecchia · 8/10 · 14 May 2010]

I LOVE the character of Ambrose. John Turturro is fantastic in the Mycroft Holmes (Sherlock's smarter brother) character. However despite the fact that the mystery in this episode is great. I noticed a goof in this story. (SPOILER) Before the credits we see an armored truck driver paying for groceries & chatting it up with the cashier. Over his shoulder we see the murderer. Later in the episode Stollemeyer & Disher are questioning the armored truck drivers cashier they mention she rang in the murderer, but you can clearly see him being rung in by a different woman at the beginning of the show.

Other than that Monk is as always great. I wish they had used Ambrose at least a couple more times in the series. And while I knew it wasn't feasible my biggest wish was some type of crossover or at the very least a cameo for Peter Falk. He could have been on vacation & be the retired Lt. Columbo & helped out with a case.

Requires more suspension of disbelief than I prefer

[langdorm · 7/10 · 26 November 2022]

It's an entertaining episode, and I'm willing to suspend my disbelief a fair amount for this show. Usually. There are a lot of weird coincidences. But this one is a bit much. The pigeon Monk sees in the store parking lot just so happens to land in the neighborhood he's trick or treating in? In the front yard of a house he passes by? I know the poison was quick acting, and maybe the store is close, but that was a weird stretch. The bird could have flown in any direction. The other is when they think Ambrose is dying and he's in an ambulance but the EMT is literally just sitting off to the side staring into space making no effort to help his patient. I know there isn't supposed to be a cure for the poison, but wouldn't he at least pretend to be helping him? Otherwise why bother going to the hospital in the first place?

Oh, and to address another person's review where they note a supposed mistake: they seemed to think the police were interviewing the cashier about how she was at the check out with the killer, which would have been wrong because he was rung up by someone else. But the police were asking about the guy who got killed. You can tell based on her description of what happened in the parking lot. Not a mistake. Just the reviewer misinterpreting who they were taking about.

Ambrose Monk, my hero

[ccull · 10/10 · 17 October 2006]

It was a real treat to see John Turturro as Adrian Monk's brother. They play beautifully off each other, and I hope we will get to see more of Ambrose. These guys have two of my favorite profiles, by the way.

Being rather OCD myself, I love watching Adrian bull ahead in spite of the things that make him squirm. There's no way that his brother could have the same problems as Adrian--that would be a bad decision. By now just about everyone knows that Adrian was really always obsessive/compulsive. It's just the stress of his loss that has messed him up.

But what could Ambrose have going on that could possibly be a match for Adrian's tics and twitches? Certainly his brother must have come in for some of what made Adrian what he is today, but there's only one Adrian Monk. I can't deny that I like what they did with Ambrose.

BTW--the trick-or-treat theme was grand, and when the "bad guy" was introduced, well--it was just great casting. I would happily watch this episode again and again.

This is one of my favorite episodes because the atmosphere is very well drawn and moody in its way, with lots of tension, but a great opportunity to watch this coolest of casts work their magic. Since I don't have cable I have to wait to see "Monk" for times when I house-sit for a friend, but I don't have a problem with that, because now and then USA has Monk marathons.

Great episode. Bring them on.

Halloween time with Adrian and Ambrose

[TheLittleSongbird · 10/10 · 3 August 2017]

'Monk' has always been one of my most watched shows when needing comfort, to relax after a hard day, a good laugh or a way to spend a lazy weekend.

After the above average but somewhat disappointing season premiere in "Mr Monk and the Other Detective", Season 4 improves immensely with one of its, and the show's, standout episodes "Mr Monk Goes Home Again". Having made such a huge positive impression in Season 2's "Mr Monk and the Three Pies", Ambrose's return was much anticipated and it was well worth the wait. Like "Mr Monk and the Three Pies", everything about it just works, it's hilarious, it's touching, it's heart warming and there is even a little bit of tension.

Not many episodes of 'Monk' make me laugh and cry in the same episode, in what is essentially a quirky and humorous show with fun mysteries and some very well done dramatic elements, but examples that did have that effect on me are "Mr Monk and the Three Pies" and Season 3's "Mr Monk and the Kid" and this.

Like "Mr Monk and the Three Pies", it is the relationship (in both tension and bonding) between Adrian and Ambrose that makes "Mr Monk Goes Home Again" so special. Individually and together they have so many delightful character moments that make you laugh until your sides are sore and also until one is reduced to sobbing. There are many touching moments too and plenty to get amused by both characters' numerous quirks and problems.

Some wonderful character moments like the poisoned candy bar, Ambrose's sweet chemistry with Natalie, the whole Halloween atmosphere and how Ambrose takes it so seriously and the whole father returning home scenario.

Natalie is settling in well, her chemistry with Monk is sparkling even more, her personality is starting to become more differentiated and more interesting, she's useful and the two characters function very well together. She has a down-to-earth-ness, sensitivity and sass that makes one warm to her as well as being more sympathetic to Monk's issues. Traylor Howard is doing just fine.

As said many times, one of the best things about 'Monk' has always been the acting of Tony Shalhoub in the title role. It was essential for him to work and be the glue of the show, and Shalhoub not only is that but also at his very best he IS the show. Have always loved the balance of the humour, which is often hilarious, and pathos, which is sincere and touching.

John Tuturro comes incredibly close to stealing the show from under Shalhoub, a bravura performance that tugs at the heart-strings and induces gales of laughter, like in his previous appearance. Definitely in the top 10 best guest stars on 'Monk'. The other show regulars do very well, if not as much to do or with as meaty material. The Halloween setting captures the creepiness and excitement of the holiday brilliantly.

It's not just the cast though. Another star is the writing, which is also essential to whether the show would be successful or not and succeed it does here. The mix of hilarious wry humour, lovable quirkiness and tender easy-to-relate-to drama is delicately done. The quirks are sympathetically done and never exploited or overdone. The mystery is a very good one, figuring out the perpetrator is not hard but the fun, regardless of the oft-obviousness of the villains' identities on 'Monk', has always been in the why, the how and how Monk comes to the conclusions.

Visually, the episode is shot in a slick and stylish way, and the music is both understated and quirky. While there is a preference for the theme music for Season 1, Randy Newman's "It's a Jungle Out There" has grown on me overtime, found it annoying at first but appreciate its meaning and what it's trying to say much more now. Oh and a good job is done with the different opening credits sequence to accommodate the changes made.

All in all, outstanding and one of the show's best episodes. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Ambrose Returns

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 24 March 2020]

Adrian and Natalie end up at the home of Monk's brother, Ambrose, on Halloween night. Their absentee father has said he will be showing up. Meanwhile, a strange murder has taken place in a grocery store parking lot. John Turturo plays Monk's brother to perfection, being an entrenched agoraphobic. Great scenes as Monk goes trick or treating with Natalie's daughter. The conclusion is quite touching.

Monk's Halloween

[safenoe · 8/10 · 17 August 2020]

Great to see John Turturro back in Monk, playing Ambrose Monk. This is an inspired piece of casting for sure, and the trick and trick subplot kept us guessing to the end.