To See or Not to See: Keanu

No, Keanu is not a movie with or about Keanu Reeves.

I know, hard to believe.

Instead, Keanu is an action-comedy starring Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key as two cousins who pretend to be violent killers in order to reclaim a newly adopted kitten from gangsters.

No, really. That’s the plot.

The movie opens with Jordan Peele’s character, Rell, going through a rough break-up. Then, like a little miracle from heaven, the titular Keanu (one of the cutest kittens you’ll ever see) shows up on his doorstep. Rell falls in love and takes Keanu in.

Tragedy strikes when Rell is out with his cousin Clarence (Keegan-Michael Key) one night. The two of them return to Rell’s home, only to find that it’s been vandalized and–GASP–Keanu is gone. A tip leads them to the seedy strip club, central base of the Blips, a gang led by Cheddar (Method Man). Rell and Clarence adopt gangster personalities (“Tectonic” and “Shark Tank”–great nicknames) in order to blend in.

Keanu is indeed in Cheddar’s possession but he won’t even consider their request until the two of them have helped on a drug run. The two agree to do so, which leads one of the funnier scenes of the movie–Clarence waits outside in the getaway van with three of the Blips and manages to convince them that George Michael’s music is the bomb by lying about George Michael’s race. Anna Faris also makes a wild cameo during this part of the movie.

The plot takes its twists and turns from there (Clarence and Rell are mistaken for two of the city’s most notorious killers, the Allentown Boys, and have many more encounters with unsavory folks).

Overall, I enjoyed this comedy, though there were definitely moments that felt a little far-fetched. What wasn’t far-fetched is the lengths that these two would go for that kitten!

★ ★ ★ ☆

Header Photo Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Header Photo Credit: New Line Cinema

Other Photos Credit: Giphy