By Jay Connors.
Following the departure of Dave Chappelle from the network, Comedy Central were desperate to find a new comedy sketch show to take it’s place. In 2012, ‘Key & Peele’ premiered utilising a similar format to ‘Chappelle’s Show’, with stand up interludes breaking up pre taped sketch pieces by a pair formerly known to viewers on MADtv. Despite some rough edges, by the 3rd season the show had shaken off any comparisons to the aforementioned sketch show, and had become a household name in its own regard. It’s combination of smart writing and larger than life characters, it quickly produced hit after hit, with sketches being shared globally within hours of air. After the conclusion of the 5th season, and 53 episodes, the pair announced that they would be finishing the show and heading to Hollywood.
‘Keanu’ is the first result from that transition, one which more often than not produces a painful movie that makes you question why those involved left a good pay check to produce something that barely has any laughs. After all, the most important thing for a comedy film is to make you laugh, and if it can’t do that… what’s the point?
Luckily, ‘Keanu’ feels like a script that was worked on by experienced screen writers with the jokes hitting succinctly, beat after beat with barely a pause.
As with a lot of less-than-serious films, and let’s be straight here – there’s not much about ‘Keanu’ that could be considered serious, the film starts with a more straight-laced approach than it continues with. After a fairly well choreographed massacre committed by a rival drug gang, a small kitten escapes the carnage before ending up on Rell’s (Jordan Peele) doorstep. After suffering a breakup with his girlfriend, Rell had been in a creative and social slump and welcomed the kitten in to his life, before a break in orchestrated by the ridiculously named 17th St Blips separates him from the kitten. Along with his cousin Clarence (Keegan-Michael Key), who’s on a mission to add some excitement into his life, the pair hunt down Keanu the kitten to bring him safely home.
Side characters are provided by the always reliable Will Forte, Jason Mitchell (of last year’s NWA biopic), Method Man and a sadly underused Rob Heubel. It’s a solid cast that throws a few surprises into the mix too, undoubtedly involved due to the popularity of the key performers.
The writing in ‘Keanu’ feels similar to the sketch show and uses this to its advantage, instantly providing it with an existing fanbase who should lap this up. The longer runtime force the duo into providing more depth to their characters, and allow them to evolve throughout the film while ensuring the audience are kept laughing the whole time. It’s an absurd little film which doesn’t quite show them at their top of their game, but at the same time doesn’t disappoint.
If you’re a fan of the show, or have never heard of Key and Peele (despite them seemingly popping up in so many TV shows and movies over the last few years), it’s an easy to get into popcorn comedy that should leave anyone with a sense of humour smiling. It’s silly but not too crass, despite it’s R rating, and overall should be on your list to catch during it’s release even if it’s unlikely to be remembered by the year end lists. Key and Peele are a comic force that are here to stay, and I’m delighted that their first theatrical effort is as fun as I could hope for.
*** 1/2
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