Max Action Comedy Unites Sketch Legends With Adorable Furry Friend
Fans of off-the-wall humor are surely familiar with the hilarious duo of Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, who led the sketch comedy space with their Comedy Central series Key & Peele throughout the mid-2010s. While the duo has since gone on to dominate the field of comedy, horror, and more in numerous solo projects, many fans may not recall their first feature-length collaboration to follow up Key & Peele’s climactic finale. The film, titled Keanu, first premiered in 2016 and is currently available to stream on Max.
The Key & Peele Movie We Always Wanted
Keanu was written by the comedy duo alongside Key & Peele producer Alex Rubens, who also holds writing credits for such hilarious television projects as Community, Rick and Morty, and most recently, Krapopolis. Like Rubens, Keanu director Peter Atencio first worked with Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele on their beloved sketch show before signing on to helm their collaborative feature film debut. Key and Peele star in the film’s leading roles, alongside performances from Tiffany Haddish, Method Man, Luis Guzmán, Will Forte, Rob Huebel, and You People‘s Nia Long.
The Cutest Cat In The World
The narrative of Keanu opens on Peele’s Rell Williams, as he struggles with depression and a lack of purpose after being dumped by his long-time girlfriend. While awaiting a visit from his well-meaning cousin Clarence Goobril, Williams discovers the most adorable kitten in the world meowing on his doorstep, and takes it upon himself to adopt it. By the time Clarence arrives to cheer his cousin up, Rell has already come into better spirits, having swaddled the cat and named him Keanu.
Anyone Would Kill For That Cat
This mirth is unfortunately short-lived, as Clarence and Rell discover that the house has been completely ransacked only two weeks later, rendering Keanu missing in action. In a desperate bid to find their cat and bring him back to his newfound home, the duo hit the streets, inquiring shady characters from their neighborhood about who would dare to catnap Keanu. Rell and Clarence’s search leads them to a gang known as the 17th Street Blips, who mistake the dorky duo for fellow gang members.
Dismantle The Criminal Underworld For This Cat
As the narrative of Keanu builds to a stunning climax, Clarence and Rell find themselves immersed in a dangerous criminal underworld while fighting for the freedom of their furry accomplice. Keanu Reeves even makes a brief voiceover appearance in the film, humorously portraying the cat in an absurd dream sequence. Seven different cats and kittens took on the role of Keanu, the cat, for the big screen caper, each of whom was adopted by members of the cast and crew once filming wrapped.
Stream The Cutest Cat In Existence On Max
REVIEW SCORE
While Keanu didn’t manage to have much staying power in the general pop culture zeitgeist, it serves as a ridiculous and enjoyable 90-minute movie with some big laughs along the way. It’s obviously far from Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele’s finest work, but it served as a fulfilling epilogue to fans looking to fill the Key & Peele-sized hole in their hearts once the series concluded. If you’re interested in checking out Keanu today, be sure to stream the film on Max.
