Keanu (Rated C)
Cast: Jordan Peele, Keegan-Michael Key, Method Man
Genre: Comedy
Dwight's Rating: 2.5 Stars
Forget "Year of the Monkey"! 2016 is shaping up to be a "Year of Overhype" -- especially when it comes to comedic films.
We saw it with "The Boss," a complete and utter disappointment. "Zoolander 2" was a massive turd. And I'm willing to bet that the upcoming, heavily promoted "The Nice Guys," with Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling, will likely be a big dud. (Has any film been as excessively advertised in the last couple years? There's been an ad for it in nearly every commercial break on television since seemingly March (it opens May 20). That's never a good sign.)
And now here's "Keanu." Over the past several weeks, you could see ads or "special previews" for it during every sporting broadcast, major television event, or even minor TV show. Add to that the omnipresence of its stars -- the incredibly talented Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key (of the late Comedy Central TV sketch show "Key & Peele"). From commercials for completely different and unrelated products -- from Toyotas to the travel site Booking.com -- to talk shows promoting their new movie, Peele and Key were everywhere.
Plus, with the actual ads for "Keanu" quoting some very excitable (but also never of) movie critics claiming it's the best comedy in years, it would be hard for anything to live up to that kind of hype, right?
Unfortunately, "Keanu" cannot and does not. It tries. And is for the most part enjoyable. But diminished expectations would probably be useful.
In case you didn't know, the Keanu here refers not to the actor Reeves, but instead, a kitten. Recently dumped by his girlfriend, slacker Rell (Jordan Peele) finds some happiness when said kitten (whom he names Keanu) winds up on his doorstep. After a heartless thief steals the cat, Rell recruits his cousin Clarence (Keegan-Michael Key) to help him retrieve it. They soon learn that a thug named Cheddar (Method Man) has the animal, and he'll only give it back if the two men agree to work for him. Armed with guns and a gangster attitude, it doesn't take long for the hapless duo to land in big trouble.
First of all, the kitten (or kittens, apparently) playing Keanu --adorable! For some, that alone may make the film worth watching. Both Peele and Key are enthusiastic and entertaining in their performances. Method Man is also interesting as the main antagonist. And a bizarre scene with Anna Faris playing herself is memorable (but more disturbing than actually funny).
For better or worse, the movie is just like their TV show, "Key & Peele" -- uneven. There are very high highs, with touches of brilliance. But otherwise, it's just passably amusing, with a number of misfires. It is laugh at loud funny at times, but not as often as one might have hoped.
It tries its hand at social commentary on racial stereotypes, with especially Key's character Clarence defying, yet also feeding into them. Some of these are quite humorous observations, but others feel drawn out for far too long.
The greatest challenge for me, though, was a sense of familiarity. I couldn't help but think this was eerily similar to "Date Night", the hilarious 2010 comedy starring Steve Carell and Tina Fey, who played a married couple taking on different personas when they get mixed up with some dangerous criminals.
So, the cute kitten is really the only original or unique element of the whole production. Shockingly, this won't be the only cat comedy this year; two-time Oscar winner Kevin Spacey will find himself trapped inside the body of the family cat in "Nine Lives" this August. (Dear God!!)
With "Keanu" though, you're likely to see much better and funnier material on "Key & Peele". Again, it's not bad. It just can't get over that massive hype mountain, or even the talents of its stars.
o Dwight Strachan is the host/producer of " Morning Blend" on Guardian Radio. He is a television producer and writer, and an avid TV history and film buff. Email dwight@nasguard.com and follow him on twitter @morningblend969.
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