Tony Shalhoub and Andy Breckman reveal a pivotal lesson learned in Monk, exclusive

After a 14 year hiatus, Monk has returned in Peacock’s Mr. Monk’s Last Case. Whether or not this movie event is truly the character’s final hurrah remains to be seen. For Tony Shalhoub and Andy Breckman, the storyline is more than a mystery to solve. The lesson learned by Monk is a sentiment that everyone can appreciate.

The new Peacock movie, Mr. Monk’s Last Case follows the beloved character as he unravels the mysterious death of Molly’s fiancé. While some of the classic characters return to help put all the pieces together, the storyline is only part of the reason to watch.

During a press junket, Culturess was able to speak with Tony Shalhoub and Andy Breckman about the movie. While the pair did bring Monk back for a brief appearance during the pandemic, the pair shared that fans were desperate to know how Monk fared.

Breckman said, “during COVID, everyone was thinking about Monk and worried about how he was doing. We did a short film and it got everyone’s juices flowing.” From there the idea of a movie grew.

For Shalhoub, stepping back into the Monk character had to take into account all the things that have happened since viewers saw the character. Shalhoub said, “(Monk) has been knocked back on his heels. He’s in worse shape now than he was when we first met him in the pilot.” From being isolated to not having his support system, Monk succumbs to some dark thoughts.

Andy Breckman said everyone can learn this lesson from Mr. Monk’s Last Case

While Monk and his many quirks are both endearing and relatable, there is a bigger lesson to appreciate in Mr. Monk’s Last Case. As Andy Breckman shared, “the lesson that Monk learns at the end of this journey, is that even in your darkest hour, you’re not alone, even if you feel along. That is a good take away for everyone.”

As seen in the movie, Monk has people who want to be in his life. From former colleagues to Molly, he has a support system. More importantly, he realizes that his solving skills helped many people throughout the years. Those people might not be physically in front of him, but he is not alone.

Even though that statement is poignant and a universal lesson, Mr. Monk’s Last Case does not continually dwell in the darkness. One of the reasons why the original series struck a chord is that the moments easily swung the pendulum from dark to comedic.

Breckman believes that when moment hits just right, those moments happen in the same scene. In this new Peacock movie, those moments happen periodically.

As Shalhoub commented, “for eight seasons we strived to allow the dramatic, darker more poignant scenes to coexist with the comedic, goofy scenes.” That sentiment is clear in the new movie. A moment pondering whether life is worth living is juxtaposed with stepping in dog poop. It might be a big swing, but it engages the audience and keeps them coming back for more.

For Monk fans who are ready to dive back into Monk, his quirkiness, and maybe do a little soul searching of their own, Peacock is streaming Mr. Monk’s Last Case. In addition, older episodes from the series can be streamed online as well.