When it was announced that Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele’s newest film, Keanu, was added to the South by Southwest slate at the last minute, Key and Peele fans rejoiced at the opportunity to see the comedic pair back in action. The duo had ended their Comedy Central sketch show in September, and many were excited to see their first collaborative project together post-Key and Peele.
Though the surprise announcement had indicated that Keanu was still a “work-in-progress” screening, expectations were naturally high. Lines for the 12:30 a.m. screening wrapped around the block - so much so that I could not get in before capacity was filled. That unfortunate circumstance may have paid off for me and countless others denied at the door, however, as Keanu failed to impress to audiences. Here’s a roundup of what the critics are saying about Key and Peele’s Keanu:
An initially amusing but fatally overstretched action-comedy that marks a lamer-than-expected big-screen outing for Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele following the conclusion last year of their frequently brilliant cable series.
The fact that the minds behind it have shown themselves repeatedly to be capable of so much more, the response to Keanu can't be any more than disappointment.
"This feels like a five-minute sketch that’s outstayed its welcome,” grumbled a journalist sitting next to me at SXSW’s 'work in progress' screening of Keanu, the first big-screen vehicle for Comedy Central sensations Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele. 'Not enough cat,' muttered someone to my right. Both grievances were, unfortunately, spot on.
...a patchy mix between kidnapping crime comedy and glorified cat video.
The high points of Keanu, much like the best moments of Key & Peele, materialize out of nowhere to toy with audience expectations then keep running juuuuust past the punchline, propelled along by the crackling chemistry the duo have been perfecting since their MadTV days. If only there was more biting Key & Peele randomness to be had. Gangsters can haz kitty? only gets you so far.
Keanu arrives in theaters on April 29. Stay tuned to iDigitalTimes for continuing coverage of SXSW 2016.
