Director: Peter Atencio
By Alex Watson
Key & Peele's first foray into the big screen is one of the most pleasant surprises of 2016. Keanu might longer than it needs to be but the amount of laughs provided will more than makeup for the flaws. Over the five seasons, these two have proven to be a natural duo and onscreen their chemistry flows. Director Peter Atencio does well to keep the action-flick cliches in check and with a witty script at their disposal this picture is a lot of fun.
Rell (Jordan Peele) has just been dumped by his girlfriend but finds hope in a new feline buddy who he names Keanu. His cousin Clarence (Keegan-Michael Key) is a married father of two who is adjusting his new suburban life. Keanu and Rell instantly bond and he inspires a new creative streak in him. When his kitty is stolen in a house burglary Rell is determined to get back his friend. The problem is he is now the property of drug lord Cheddar (Method Man) which forces these two to come up with new identities.
Keanu is a movie that is way smarter than its premise makes out. It may lose its way slightly towards the end but otherwise, it has solid laughs. The early stages of watching man and cat bond have the cute and funny factor sold as Rell makes a Keanu calendar of movie different movies like Mad Max: Fury Road and Crimson Tide. This cat has a prior history that becomes important later on as he has just escaped from a drug dealer who was killed. When Rell's place in ransacked, his only concern is to get his buddy back. Finding out that psycho drug dealer is now in possession of this cat and calling him New Jack is a bullet wound through the heart.
Infiltrating the gang brings about some of the biggest laughs of Atencio's film. These two middle-class men attempt to adopt new gang persona's Tectonic and Shark Tank, "You sound like Richard Pryor impersonating a white guy!" one of them mocks at an early stage. These two have found a way into the Blips Gang (made up of ex Bloods and Crips) by pretending to be gangland legends from Allentown. to prove their worth, the pair are forced into doing a risky drug deal for Cheddars product 'Holy Shit'. Convincing this gun hungry mob is no easy feat but somehow they manage to strike a cord. Watching Clarence educate his new acquaintances on George Michael raises a smile, particularly as he attempts to make he is black. Though the sequence where Rell and Hi-C (Tiffany Haddish) attempt to sell drugs to an intoxicated and violent Anna Faris almost steals the picture.
Things to do take a difficult turn during Keanu's final third when we are introduced to Luis Guzman's drug lord Bacon Diaz. Atencio is aware of this fault and covers for it by laying some well-executed action gimmicks. The cat might not be present in every scene but his influence is always felt and aside from being adorable, this furry creature is worth fighting for. Possibly the best sequence of the film comes from when Clarence accidentally ingests Holy Shit. Referred to by Cheddar as like "Smoking crack with God" he comes before Keanu who then proceeds to give some wise words. No prizes for guessing who the voice belongs to! If the music doesn't give it away then I can't help you. Aside from the late blips (no pun intended) this is still a well-measured comedy and gives hope to Key and Peele's ability to hold a feature film.
At the centre Key and Peele hold this affair together well, Many thought this was going to be a John Wick rip-off (coincidentally starring Keanu Reeves) but these two make good work of turning two Surburbanites into wannabe gangsters. Peele, in particular, is able to conjure up several emotionally relevant moments. Key's love of George Michael is easily the funniest aspect and he lip synches along to 'Freedom'. One unexpected bonus is watching Will Forte's white gangster Hulka, a turn so outlandish we're in shock for moments afterwards. Forte is an underrated comic talent and his work here makes me want to see Hulka get his own picture. Method Man has also proven to be a good villain on his on shows such as The Wire (ironically he was called Cheese on that show) and Cheddar is exactly the sort of man gang's fear.
Keanu is one of the better comedies you will see this summer and once more proves that George Michael songs are very much the trend of 2016.
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