Categories: Film FestivalsSXSW

SXSW premieres Key & Peele’s ‘KEANU’ complete with kittens

James Cole Clay // Film Critic

Comedy duo Keegan Michael Key and Jordan Peele have become sort of a phenomenon with their sketch program KEY & PEELE. The biting social commentary on gender and race has attracted millions of fans via their YouTube page. But those days have come to a close as they write and star in their feature debut KEANU, an unexpected last minute surprise for the fans at SXSW.

The excitement was at a fever pitch before the midnight start time with Key and Peele walking the red carpet along with their director Peter Atencio and co-star/comedian Rob Huebel.

KEANU focuses on two cousins who are attempting to find their stolen cat by posing as drug dealers. The simplistic plot and comedic chops should have allowed for bellylaughs-a-minute, but the film never finds its groove, despite the talent involved and confident visual direction from Atencio.

Before the film, or even the red carpet began, the duo walked down the line of badge holders and offered them either an individual selfie, or a t-shirt. It was easy to see the guys were having a blast interacting with some of their most passionate fans.

KEANU started nearly an hour late due, but they finally introduced the film to a roaring applause. They made clear that this was a “work-in-progress” in its first public screening and urged festivalgoers to tweet their reactions to generate buzz. And to finish warming up the crowd they threw dozens of plush Keanu kittens into the audience.

Reactions were mixed to the film, but Key and Peele’s presence, no doubt, has been made on SXSW 2016. New Line Cinema is releasing KEANU nationwide April 29.

James C. Clay

James Cole Clay has been working as a film critic for the better part of a decade covering new releases, blu ray reviews and the occasional drive-in cult classic. His writing is dedicated to discovering social politics through diverse voices, primarily focusing on Women In Film and LGBTQ cinema.

Recent Posts

[Fresh on Criterion] ‘DOGFIGHT’ flouts genre expectations with River Phoenix and Lili Taylor as opposites drawn closer after a mean dating game

Nancy Savoca’s film deconstructs misogyny and vulnerability before a solider heads to fight in Vietnam.

17 hours ago

[Film & TV Podcast Reviews] Taylor Swift, ‘CHALLENGERS’, ‘HUMANE’ & More

On episode 4 of The Fresh Fiction Podcast's Film & TV talk, we discuss Taylor…

6 days ago

[Video Interview] ‘SASQUATCH SUNSET’ directors on their Kubrickian vibes, embracing the offbeat path

'SASQUATCH SUNSET' is a thrilling and immersive ride that will keep you laughing throughout, and Fresh Fiction was…

2 weeks ago

[Film & TV Podcast Reviews] ‘SASQUATCH SUNSET,’ ‘ABIGAIL’, ‘EARTHSOUNDS’ & More

On episode 3 of The Fresh Fiction Podcast's Film & TV talk, we discuss SASQUATCH…

2 weeks ago

[Book Review] ‘FROM THE MOMENT THEY MET IT WAS MURDER’ doubles down on ‘DOUBLE INDEMNITY’ to the delight of film noir aficionados

Film historians Alain Silver and James Ursini present a detailed account of Billy Wilder’s classic…

2 weeks ago