Key & Peele Take On The Big Screen

‘KEANU’ TRAILER REVIEW BY METRO CREW

After Rell (Jordan Peele) gets dumped by his girlfriend, things seem awful. But then an adorable kitten, Keanu, shows up at his doorstep and all is good again. So when Keanu is kidnapped, Rell and his cousin Clarence (Keegan-Michael Key) have to infiltrate a gang of hardened criminals to get him back. While we agree that this is a pretty ridiculous plot, we also think that that’s what is going to make it work. Keanu opens in wide release April 29.

JAIMIE: I can’t believe this movie exists, but I could not be more thrilled. Key and Peele are quite funny and this looks like no exception. How they are going to carry out this plot for what — two hours? — is beyond me.

NICOLE: YAY. I cannot express how excited I am. I am a big fan of Key and Peele, and I like their humor. I think I’ll enjoy this.

CHRISTINA: I can’t believe this is a real movie. The concept is so ridiculous — two men trying to steal back their kitten from a group of people who have taken him inexplicably. But the kitten is really, really adorable, so I understand. I am also skeptical how this all plays out over two hours — like, as a sketch it would be great, I’m sure, but a feature-length film? That kitty better get lots of screen time.

PAIGE: I wonder if there will be Keanu Reeves jokes. Since this cat is named Keanu. Surely they would make fun of the most famous man named Keanu? I’ll be disappointed if there are none.

JAMES: I think this may be a play off the latest Keanu movie, John Wick. In that one, he plays a retired assassin. An unknowing thug kills his puppy, forcing Keanu to resurface on path of vengeance.

JAIMIE: It looks like Keanu Reeves is the voice of the cat. So it all makes sense now.

PAIGE: I’m actually not familiar with Key and Peele but I’ve been told they are very funny, and I can believe it based on this trailer.

JAIMIE: Sometimes their sketches start off really, really funny and then they drag on for just a little bit too long so that by the end, I’m kind of just laughing out of obligation and with anxiety for it to end. But, this was a good trailer and so I plan on watching this — maybe not in theaters but at least when it is streaming or on Comedy Central.

PAIGE: To me, the most entertaining part isn’t the adorable kitten (which I am already predicting is secretly an evil genius kitten because of course it’s going to be an evil genius kitten) but the way Key and Peele play with the idea of linguistic code switching, of sorts — in other words, the way they go from textbook English to IN DA HOOD talk in .04 seconds. It’s parodic how exaggerated it is, and yet it is not without its kernel of truth. You’ve got to speak the language to fit in.

NICOLE: Keanu is definitely my favorite part. I hope there is montage of hooman-kitten bonding with happy-go-lucky music. I’m picturing them sharing a plate of salmon for dinner, and Peele opening himself a beer while also opening a can of cat food for little Keanu. Oh, and then watching The Lion King together and cowering and crying during all of the emotional parts.