Keanu review

KEANU:

KEY & PEELE’S STYLE OF COMEDY SHINES PERFECTLY ON THE MOVIE SCREEN…AND THERE’S A CAT!

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: *** out of 4

WARNER BROS. PICTURES AND NEW LINE CINEMA

Keegan-Michael Key (left) and Jordan Peele (right) ready to battle some gangsters and save their cat, Keanu

            Comedy superstars, Keegan-Michael Key (Key & Peele, Tomorrowland, Freaks of Nature) and Jordan Peele (Key & Peele, Children’s Hospital, Wanderlust) hot off their hit Comedy Central sketch series, Key & Peele now takes their goofy lowbrow humor to the big-screen in Keanu. Now just because there’s a cute little kitty in it, does not mean it’s a movie to take your little kids to (Seriously Parents, Don’t!), this is a Key & Peele comedy movie that has a cat in it, you name it, vulgar humor, drugs, sex, celebrity cameos, gang violence, and of course a reference to “Liam Neesons” but don’t worry it’s all played for laughs.

            The humor and likability of Key and Peele shine on the screen perfectly, with an absurd but comedic plot to boot, hilarious side characters, and an adorable sounding kitty cat to the point where it becomes funny. Usually these elements lead to a laugh out loud comedy for me, and it didn’t disappoint.

            The film follows Rell (Peele) an ordinary man who’s trying to get over his girlfriend dumping him and his quirky cousin, Clarence (Key) trying to keep his marriage with his wife and daughter on the right track. One day Rell finds a cat on his doorstep that he decides to keep and calls him Keanu (and yes, they make the joke you’re probably thinking about in the film!).

            Rell and Clarence go to a movie theater to see the latest “Liam Neesons” movie one night, but they soon realize that Rell’s door was opened and his cat had gone missing. Our two oddball heroes learn that Keanu has been taken by a gang of drug dealers so they decide to pose as drug dealers to get Keanu back from one bad Muthafucka named Cheddar (Method Man).

            What follows is what you’d expect, goofy hijinks, tripping out on drugs, encounters with a ruthless Mexican drug cartel, car chases, Rell’s weed guy, Hulka (Will Forte-30 Rock, MacGruber, Nebraska) in a car trunk with a live snake, and getting kidnapped by a pair of assassins known as the Allentown boys (Also played by Key and Peele).

            Overall, Keanu delivers exactly what you’d expect if you’re a fan of the Key & Peele TV series, although nobody messes with the Batmans in this movie (Although Zack Snyder messed with the Batmans with Batman v. Superman!). The film blends Key & Peele comedy, cute little cats, gang violence, drugs, and goofy and over the top hijinks perfectly and I can guarantee it would be very hard to watch this movie and not laugh once.

            The best parts of the movie is the chemistry between Key and Peele, you can’t deny seeing them work off each other in terms of comedy is both lowbrow and strangely charming at the exact same time, proof these guys got mad talent. I honestly think these guys are a lot funnier than Family Guy in terms of lowbrow comedy, don’t get me wrong I like Family Guy, but lately I’ve been getting more laughs with Key and Peele’s humor, even with a cat running around.

            Just seeing Key and Peele, two quirky oddballs hanging with a group of ruthless gangs is as funny as it sounds, and you eventually see the gang members’ softer sides during the film, you will believe drug dealing gangsters can sing.

            This is by far one of the best comedies I’ve seen so far this year, and I’m hoping this will lead to more comedies starring Key and Peele together, dick jokes, drugs, and all. It’s Key and Peele comedy brought into full force on the big screen with a cat, it’s a comedy that will make you “Meow” with laughter.