Keanu is not just a dark haired, sunglasses wearing Canadian. He’s also a kitten with a rare disease: cuteness. Or so we are led to believe by Comedy Central duo Key and Peele, playing cousins who would do anything to get Keanu back after he’s kitten-napped by a gang of street toughs led by the one and only Method Man. And so goes Keanu, a film that takes the two cousins from one life-threatening situation to the next, in pursuit of a cat.
Being a dog owner, I am duty bound to object to the whole premise. This movie would have been a million times more believable if Keanu was a dog. Cats are too cold and cranky for you to want to chase one all over Los Angeles. Deep down you know that cat doesn’t care about you at all. So if you lose a cat
in real life, you just put up a poster and call it a day. But for a dog, that’s different. If your dog gets lost you don’t look for an hour and then call it quits. You get your ass out there and you find that fucking dog!
Poor pet choice aside, Key and Peele’s adventure is an entertaining one. While there are not a ton of belly laughs, there are a lot of memorable scenes, including a fantastic George Michael singalong and some hilarious movie-themed cat pictures.
There is also something refreshing about seeing these normal guys (who happen to be black) play with stereotypes, not only with their choice of music but also with their attempts to fit in with a plethora of cat-loving gang members. That element of satire is a welcome improvement on Hollywood’s usual reliance on racial tropes.
Writers Jordan Peele and Alex Rubens deserve a ton of credit for departing from that formula. Keanu successfully subverts the usual tropes and shows that the stereotypes we cling to are an unconscious attempt to fit into a role rather than being innate characteristics. And that’s why this dog-lover enjoyed a movie about a kitten, because it’s not really about a kitten at all.
ASSHOLES WATCHING MOVIES 
Pretty good fun all in all. Compared to their K&P sketches, not as amazing, but simply a solid comedy.
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I think Jay felt the same way, that the sketches are better than Keanu. I haven’t seen the sketches yet but want to check them out.
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President Obama’s anger translater is the best.
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I think their sketches can be a little edgier that’s for sure. This was a bit safe, but definitely a good introduction into movies, and I did laugh a lot. Although you’re right, I remember that I just kept tapping you on the leg at funny moments, rather than a lot of laughs out loud.
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(which is not a complaint – sometimes they’re funny-clever rather than funny-haha)
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Happy to see this now because my 16-year-old is badgering me to go see this movie today. I’d like to see it–it looks funny–but I get tired of movies with strip-club scenes. It’s uncomfortable to watch those scenes with my sons, especially since I’m doing my best to raise them to have respect for women. What do you think? Am I going to be mortified by the strip club scenes in this movie, surrounded by my 19- and 16-year-old sons? Of course, I see the language in the movie is off the charts too, but that’s certainly nothing he hasn’t heard in a Tarantino film. Sigh. It’s tough having a movie buff for a son.
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I felt the strip club scenes were relatively tame. There is some nudity but it didn’t feel like that was the focus or motivation for the scene, as opposed to some movies where it feels the creators just picked a strip club to have an excuse to see some skin.
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Okay thanks. That helps.
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I was going to say – I hardly remember the strippers in the strip club. But, had I been watching with my grandma (I have no sons), then I’d probably remember every excrutiating second.
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With my two teen sons, I remember every excruciating second. But it was a good movie. Some pretty good laughs.
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I would search for my cat!
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Sacrilege! Blasphemy! High Treason! The Unversal Cat Council is coming to see you! Expect no mercy! 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾
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We have 4 dogs – the cat council won’t even get in the door! 😉
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Ha! That’s what you think! The tigers are on their way! 😉
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Look at my post Key and Peele! for my favourite sketches :)) They really are the funniest comedians. As a big fan, I gotta check this out. Thanks for the review!
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Sounds intriguing. I’m all for films that avoid the same old tired stereotypes. I don’t agree with you about the cats, though. I love cats and dogs, so I’d do a lot to rescue either of them. (Of course, it’s entirely academic since my apartment building doesn’t allow pets.)
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I love how you found a way to both praise the film (which I really want to see), and, more importantly, use the review as an excuse to incorporate those adorable dog photos. Well done.
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Nothing gets by you!
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The trailer, premise included, lioks so tremendously awful I wasn’t planning on seeing this at all. However, I’ve seen/heard some good things about it, this review included, so I may check it out after all.
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As a cat person, I can understand why someone would go and look for their cat. Thanks for the review. I was wondering if this was any good.
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I love Key and Peele so I’ll definitely give this one a shot. I’m a bit torn on whether or not it’s a theater viewing or a DVD viewing.
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It definitely doesn’t have to be seen in the theatre, but it’s one of the more solid, light-hearted & fun choices if you’re looking for that kind of night out.
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This sounds really fun and enjoyable. Nice review. Looking forward to seeing it
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Saw it this afternoon in Saint John … not a great movie. The kitty was soooooo cute, though.
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“Keanu is not just a dark haired, sunglasses wearing Canadian. He’s also a kitten with a rare disease: cuteness.” Omg. A+++ Opening here!! Adorable dogs too!!!
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