Rel’s best friend Clarence (Key), an upstanding guy with a fondness for George Michael tunes, is told by his wife (Nia Long) that he needs to cut loose and have more adventures in life - that’s exactly what happens when Keanu is kidnapped by yet another drug dealer, the intimidating Cheddar (Method Man), and Clarence accompanies Rel as the pair pose as hardcore gangsters (“Shark Tank” and “Tectonic”) in order to locate and rescue Keanu. Initially the pet of a drug kingpin who gets killed, he ends up in the care of Rel (Peele), a pothead who finds comfort in the kitty following a nasty breakup. The title refers to an adorable kitten who’s such a heart-melting cutie that everyone who meets him wants to adopt him.
They’re off to a good start with Keanu, which may be ragged but delivers a hefty number of sizable laughs. First and foremost, though, the film is a cinematic coming-out party for Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, the popular comedians who hope to translate their television success into a motion picture career. Yes, there are references to both Keanu Reeves and The Matrix in Keanu - heck, there’s even a gag related to the actor’s dopey action flick Point Break. Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key in Keanu (Photo: Warner)