🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Peter Atencio
- Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime
- Release year: 2016
- Runtime (length): 1h 40min
- IMDb rating: 6.2/10 (77K votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 79%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
Two cousins impersonate hitmen to get back a kitten from a drug-dealing gangster, which leads to a very confusing and violent misunderstanding involving George Michael.
🍿 Keanu: Detailed Plot Synopsis
Introduction: A Kitten’s Escape
The film opens with a violent shootout at a drug processing facility. Amidst the chaos, a small kitten, later named Keanu, narrowly escapes the carnage. This sets the stage for the unlikely adventure that follows, establishing the kitten as a surprisingly valuable commodity.

Rell’s Discovery and Keanu’s Abduction
Rell, recently heartbroken, discovers the adorable kitten on his doorstep and names him Keanu. The kitten brings joy back into Rell’s life. However, their newfound happiness is short-lived when Keanu is abducted during a home invasion, sparking Rell’s desperate quest to retrieve him. This fuels the central conflict of the film.

Infiltration and Gangster Role-Play
Rell and his cousin Clarence, a suburban family man, embark on a mission to infiltrate a local gang, the 17th Street Blips, believing they are responsible for Keanu’s kidnapping. To fit in, they adopt ‘gangster’ personas, leading to humorous situations as they navigate the unfamiliar and dangerous world of gang culture. Their attempts to act tough and knowledgeable often backfire in comedic ways.

The Drug Deal and Accidental High
Mistaken for notorious assassins, Rell and Clarence are forced to participate in a drug deal. While Clarence stays behind with some of the gang members, he inadvertently consumes the product they are selling, leading to a surreal, drug-induced sequence. This heightens the absurdity of their situation and tests their ability to maintain their cover.

Confrontation and Rescue
The movie escalates into a full-blown confrontation involving rival gangs and mistaken identities. In the midst of the chaos, Rell and Clarence find themselves in dangerous situations, and are forced to put aside their awkwardness to retrieve Keanu from the clutches of the gangsters. Keanu is eventually saved.
⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Rell Williams (Jordan Peele): A recently dumped, pot-smoking artist who becomes deeply attached to a kitten and embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue him.
- Clarence Goobril (Keegan-Michael Key): A mild-mannered suburban dad who gets dragged into a world of gang violence by his cousin in their quest to find the stolen kitten.
- Cheddar (Method Man): The ruthless leader of the 17th Street Blips gang who initially possesses Keanu and mistakes Rell and Clarence for notorious assassins.
- Hi-C (Tiffany Haddish): A member of the 17th Street Blips who is secretly an undercover police officer and becomes an ally to Rell and Clarence.
- Keanu (N/A): The adorable kitten whose abduction sets off the film’s central conflict, leading Rell and Clarence into a world of crime.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Clarence: “Wordness to the turdness.” – Clarence says this awkward phrase while trying to sound tough and blend in with the gangsters.
- Rell: “He’s not just a cat, Clarence. He’s my Keanu.” – Rell expresses his deep bond with Keanu when Clarence questions their dedication to finding the kitten.
- Cheddar: “New Jack’s got an eye for talent.” – Cheddar compliments the ‘Allentown Boys’ when they claim to like his kitten, unknowingly praising his new pet.
- Clarence: “Wake up! Before you go-go!” – Clarence sings this George Michael lyric to the gangsters in an attempt to bond with them over music.
💰Box Office
- Budget: $15,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $20,591,853
- Worldwide Gross: $20,749,853
💥 Keanu Reviews
Personal Review
I absolutely loved ‘Keanu’! It’s like ‘John Wick’ but with a kitten and way more laughs. The whole George Michael subplot had me in tears. The way Key and Peele managed to blend the absurdity with genuinely funny moments was just perfect. It made me want to adopt a kitten and name it Keanu, obviously. The Anna Faris scene was hilarious and made the movie worth watching. The film surprised me with it’s charm and humor.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of Key & Peele’s sketch comedy”
- “Viewers who enjoy action comedies and buddy comedies”
- “Cat lovers with a sense of humor”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Strong language”
- “Graphic violence”
- “Drug use”
- “Suggestive content and nudity”
Professional Reviews
- IMDB User Review: “A hilarious take on traditional action/comedy, with influences from romantic comedies to 80’s action films. Key and Peele craft cinema and then skewer it, balancing comedy, action, and drama wisely. Not every joke lands, but the movie knows when to end a joke or just what to do to surprise or make the audience laugh.
- IMDB User Review: “This film is a must-watch for fans of Key and Peele’s sketch show. The duo is incredible, and the premise is brilliantly stupid. They do a good job of incorporating the same humor from their show into the film. Plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, with quick-witted banter that becomes addicting to watch.
- IMDB User Review: “The film is a fun and understated action comedy. The story and the characters are humorously unrealistic, but good for more than a few laughs. The charm and chemistry of Key and Peele account for much of this film’s appeal. (And a certain adorable kitten is also a big part of that appeal, unless, of course, you’re a soul-less cat-hater.)
Audience Reactions
The kitten is irresistibly cute, stealing every scene it’s in.: Viewers loved the dynamic between Key and Peele, citing their chemistry as the highlight of the movie.
George Michael references created hilarious moments.: Audiences found the over-the-top situations and fish-out-of-water scenarios to be genuinely funny and entertaining.
Overall Consensus: A fun, silly, but sometimes uneven action-comedy, boosted by the undeniable chemistry of Key and Peele and the cuteness of Keanu the kitten.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “Seven different cats and kittens played Keanu throughout the movie.”
- “Keegan-Michael Key is allergic to cats, so he had to take medication to be able to film scenes with them.”
- “The movie is a parody of action films like ‘John Wick,’ but the filmmakers have stated that the similarities were coincidental.”
- “Keanu Reeves voiced Keanu during Clarence’s drug-induced hallucination.”
🖥️ How to Watch Keanu?
Keanu is available for streaming rental or purchase on platforms such as Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check local listings for broadcast availability on cable or satellite providers. Physical copies (Blu-ray/DVD) can be purchased from online retailers like Amazon or at most major retailers with a movie section.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed Keanu, you might like these similar films:
- 21 Jump Street (2012): Undercover cops go back to high school in this comedy. Similar themes of mistaken identities and ordinary people in a dangerous world.
- Hot Fuzz (2007): A skilled London police officer is transferred to a sleepy town and uncovers a dark secret. Involves buddy cop action and satirical humor.
- Pineapple Express (2008): A process server and his dealer go on the run after witnessing a murder. Buddy stoner comedy with action elements.
- Game Night (2018): A group’s game night turns into a real-life mystery. Involves ordinary people in over-the-top situations.
- John Wick (2014): Action movie where a former hitman comes out of retirement to avenge the killing of his dog. Involves intense action fueled by love for an animal, parodying the same theme
🛒 Keanu Related Products
- Key & Peele – The Complete Series: Relive the brilliance of Key & Peele with this complete digital series. Featuring all the iconic sketches and characters that made them comedy legends.
- Funny Cute Cat Wearing Bandana Keanu Parody T-Shirt: A fun parody t-shirt that features a kitten wearing a bandana.
- George Michael: Faith (Remastered): Download George Michael’s iconic album ‘Faith’ and relive the memorable moments from the movie. Includes remastered tracks for a premium listening experience.
🎧 Soundtrack
Keanu features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
While Keanu shares some superficial similarities with John Wick (a protagonist driven to extreme lengths for an animal), it primarily functions as a broader satire of action movie tropes and gangster films, rather than a direct parody of John Wick itself.
According to available data, Keanu was filmed in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Seven different cats and kittens portrayed Keanu throughout the movie’s production.
Yes, there is a post-credit scene in Keanu featuring the return of the Allentown boys.
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