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Movie review: ‘Keanu' is not really the cat's meow

Watching two black cats chasing a kitten might not sound like a recipe for laughs, but in the hands of Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele it's pretty funny. Well, at least most of the time.

Like the comedy team's TV show, their first film, "Keanu," is an uneven affair hinged on race-based humor in which they gleefully turn black stereotypes inside out.

When it's on, like when Key tries to convince a band of ruthless drug dealers that George Michael is not only black, but cool, it's hilarious. But when the pair "shiftlessly" toss around the N-word in order to sound "authentic" in front of those same dealers, it's cringe inducing.

It's also not much of a movie. Like their sketch show on Comedy Central, "Keanu" feels episodic and stretched too thin, wearing out its welcome when it should be "purring" on all eight cylinders. Yet they somehow find a way to keep surprising you when you least expect it, like coming up with inspired idea of having the psycho-babbling voice of Keanu Reeves channeled through a talking kitten.

And, yes, that feline is named Keanu. But he's not named after "The Matrix" star, but for its Hawaiian definition: The cool breeze. And it's Keanu who supplies renewed wind in the sails of Peele's brokenhearted photographer, Rell, when the adorable kitten shows up on his doorstep.

It's love at first sight for both, but they are soon separated when a band of drug dealers break into the wrong house and steal the little fur ball.

That's where the ridiculous plot cooked up by Peele and fellow cat lover Alex Rubens kicks in, as Rell and his goofy, fraidy-cat cousin, Clarence (Key), try to pass themselves off as the second coming of "New Jack City" by infiltrating the catnapping Blips. Led by the hunky, charismatic Cheddar (Method Man), the Blips (a clever blending of Bloods and Crips) hang out at a strip club carrying the unfortunate acronym of HPV, Hot Party Vixens. But Cheddar ain't dealing Gardasil, he's dealing Holy S--t, which makes you feel "like you're smokin' crack from God."

Cheddar also has Keanu, now even more adorable decked out in gold chains and a black do-rag. And he's not giving him up — unless Rell and Clarence, using the stupid "street" names Tectonic and Shark Tank, prove themselves by delivering drugs to a famous Hollywood star who shall remain nameless. Just know she's having a blast goofing on herself — and her bad movies — in a fun cameo.

Therein lays a microcosm of "Keanu's" most glaring weakness. It's a funny scene, but it feels tacked on, as does a budding romance between Rell and a sassy drug dealer (Tiffany Haddish) who shatters his white-bread existence. Same for a side story about Clarence's gorgeous wife (Nia Long) being on a weekend outing with his lecherous best friend. They're just fillers that prevent the story from coalescing into a satisfying whole. And representative of a script that's been so rushed it's devoid of nuance and connectivity.

It might seem unreasonable to expect more from Key and Peele, but I do, because you can see the potential in every scene. They and director Peter Atencio also should have realized what their film needs most is less Key and Peele and more Keanu. And it's no coincidence that the best scenes are the ones in which the kitten takes center stage, from the opening shootout inside an abandoned church (from which Keanu barely escapes) to the Keystone Kops car chase near the end. There's a lot of busyness and action, but what we really crave is a little more time for paws.

— Al Alexander covers movies for the Patriot Ledger in Quincy, Massachusetts.

"Keanu"

Cast includes Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Method Man, Tiffany Haddish and Jason Mitchell.

(R for violence and language throughout, drug use and sexuality/nudity.)

Grade: B-