Here Kitty Kitty..."Keanu"

Keanu (2016)

Rated R

Starring Jordan Peele, Keegan-Michael Key, Tiffany Haddish, Method Man, Darrell Britt-Gibson, Jason Mitchell, Jamar Malachi Neighbors, Luis Guzman, Will Forte, Nia Long,

Directed by Peter Atencio

The Story:

Rell (Peele) is having a rough time when a wonderful kitten that he names Keanu winds up on his doorstep. Rell is smitten, and begins enjoying life again. However, when he comes back home with his cousin Clarence (Key), someone has broken into the house and kidnapped Keanu. The duo pretend to be a pair of notorious drug dealing hitmen in order to infiltrate a local gang and free Keanu!

Yep, that's it.

It's a tale of two guy pretending to be two guys they aren't, all to rescue a cute little kitten.

It shouldn't work as a feature length movie, yet it does.

The main reason, of course, is the comedy duo of Key & Peele.

Full disclosure, I've never seen their show, so I've got nothing with which to compare their comedic antics.

I'll assume their show was this much fun, which means I'll probably be watching it down the road.

But their chemistry is one of a well-honed comedy duo and their antics serve both short-term laughs and long-term comedy payoffs.

Plus, they recognize the musical genius of George Michael, and that's always a plus!
:)

Final Grade: B+

Sole Man..."The Cobbler"

The Cobbler (2014)

Rated PG-13

Starring Adam Sandler, Method Man, Steve Buscemi, Dustin Hoffman, Ellen Barkin

Written and Directed by Tom McCarthy

The Story:

Max (Sandler) is an old-fashioned cobbler who runs the shop his dad (Hoffman) left him. It's a family tradition that goes back seemingly forever. One day, Max needs to fix some shoes in a hurry for a customer (Method Man), but his machine breaks. He heads down to the basement and uses the old hand stitcher. However, when Max slips on the shoes, he uncovers an amazing family secret!

Well, for those that claim there is nothing on Netflix that they haven't streamed or seen already, I would challenge you with this film.

Granted, as it stars Adam Sandler, 85% of film goers have already fled to the hills.

That's a shame, as he really plays the part subdued and effectively.

Whether it's his best performance in years, as the hyperbole that often gets shouted with films like this, it is the most non-Sandler performance in ages.

There are several laughs throughout the film as Sandler gets to inhabit the bodies of those whose shoes were fixed at his shop.

But, there's also a touch for the dramatic as well as Max deals with the legacy left to him by his father, and all that it implies.

There's also other parts of the story as well, but I don't want to spoil everything!

Available to stream on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: B-