Keanu (2016), R, ★★★

Look at that cute kitty.

Key & Peele, the cat, man...they are throwing everything they can to persuade us to laugh hysterically. I mean, comedy TV stars and/or SNL alumni do not have good track records...possibly the worst track records when it comes out to starring in a first film. I felt like so many directors try desperately to highlight what these comedians can do and force us to laugh while the material is not very funny and that is pretentious as a result. They want to manipulate us. Even though the movie is a bit manipulative in highlighting a cute cat to drive the movie, the result is that the movie is funny enough to marginally recommend it to people who are fans of Key & Peele.

Two gunmen, the Allentown Brothers (Key & Peele in dual roles) shoot up the place and King Diaz comes out of hiding saying not to kill his cat but Diaz is killed. The cat runs through Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Clarence (Keegan Michael-Key) drives his mini-van, calling Rell (Jordan Peele). Rell has been dumped by his girlfriend, who said that he was a loser. Rell, hearing scratches outside his door, sees a cat in complete filth. As Clarence arrives shortly, Rell presents his completely clean cat to him and he calls him KEANU.

Clarence and Rell, two weeks later, come back from a Liam Neeson movie and we see Rell's house completely trashed and some of the parody movie posters trashed and they notice Keanu is missing. They call the cops and are told many times that people either look for drugs or are looking for stuff they can sell for drugs. Rell's dealer, Hulka (Will Forte), says that the 17th Street Blips did it. The leader of the Blips is a guy called Cheddar (Method Man). Clarence and Rell go to a topless bar to find Cheddar and are mistaken for drug dealers as he says that the cat is not for sale. How will they get Keanu back?

Kidnapped and maybe, catnapped.

This is such irreverent comedy at the most average price that even though it has a clever premise, the movie sort of derails into stupidity and predictability that you're getting a bit tired and want to just say to them, "Let's finish it up. Let's go!" They parody a lot of the action films but it's mostly like a kitten version of John Wick. And, Key and Peele have a fun time and I had a blast with some of the joyful and senseless action and when the jokes hit hard, I laugh hysterically.

Prepare to be disappointed regarding how much screen time the cat gets because he is not the center of the movie. Key & Peele does a great job with their material and the supporting cast is weak as how to boost the material and trying to become another Jump Street movie. They are not in the same league because sometimes the material takes itself a bit too seriously and becomes self-indulgent after a while.

The comedy hits hard sometimes, but when the film does not land with its jokes, the movie drags and becomes a bit dull. However, the dramatic tone regarding a character and a family element tries to make the movie even to persuade the audience to come back from a bit of a snooze. I am sort of a fan of Key & Peele and even though they missed some areas of opportunity regarding character focus, storylines and some organization around its comedy, I marginally recommend it to people who enjoy these type of action parodies and comedies that take it to another level. But, mostly, even though I am a fan of canines, the feline is adorable.

***