Keanu (2016)

"Oh, my God, that’s the cutest cat I’ve ever seen in my life!"

Rell (Peele) is depressed after getting dumped, until a kitten shows up on his porch.  He names the kitten Keanu and finds a new reason to get up in the morning.  A few months later, while having a guys weekend with his cousin/best friend Clarence (Key), his apartment is vandalized and Keanu is taken.  His drug dealer neighbor Hulka (Forte) says the kitten was taken by a local gang called the Blips.

Rell and Clarence go the Blips headquarters and take on new gangster personalities: Tectonic and Shark Tank.  They are taken to the Blips leader, Cheddar (Man), who has Keanu, now named "Low Jack."  Cheddar mistakenly believes Rell and Clarence are the notorious "Allentown Boys" and makes a bargain with them: give the gang some pointers as they prepare to sell their newest brand of weed and they will get the kitten as a sign of respect.  Can they survive the gang and get Keanu back?


Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele are big names in comedy.  Both appeared on the sketch show MADtv and took the world of sketch comedy by storm with their show Key and Peele.  The show ended in 2015, and since then expectations have been high for their first film.

When the film was first announced, people believed it was a parody of Keanu Reeves' latest film John Wick, but the similarities are just a happy coincidence.  Reeves even reached out to the producers to cameo in the film (he voices Keanu in a dream sequence).  The story was written by Peele and Alex Rubens, who was a writer and co-producer on Key and Peele.  Director, Peter Atencio, also worked on Key and Peele as the director (on all episodes).  The film capitalizes on the comedic talents of the stars and the cuteness of the kitten.  The supporting cast are game for anything thrown their way.  Method Man, Jason Mitchel, Darrell Britt-Gibson, and Tiffany Haddish are great as the gangsters.  And Will Forte is funny in a small but memorable role.

A funny film with a stellar cast.  Check it out.

Keanu (2016) 99 minutes
Rating: R for violence, language throughout, drug use and sexuality/nudity
Director: Peter Atencio
Starring: Jordan Peele as Rell / Oil Dresden
Keegan-Michael Key as Clarence / Smoke Dresden
Tiffany Haddish as Hi-C
Method Man as Cheddar
Jason Mitchell as Bud
Luis Guzman as Bacon Diaz
Nia Long as Hannah
Will Forte as Hulka
Darrell Britt-Gibson as Trunk
Jamar Malachi Neighbors as Stitches