Reporting from Austin, Texas — Whether it’s introducing fantastically named college-football players, doing spot-on Obama impressions or making inspired mayhem across the TV dial, the comedy duo of Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele have been deservedly at the top of the sketch game for years, as socially provocative as they are goofy.
Hopes, then, run understandably high for their first feature film, an action-spoof called “Keanu” that made its “work-in-progress” debut at a late (like, end-at-3:30-a.m.-late) screening Saturday night at the SXSW Film Festival, an event at which the stars showed up and tossed stuffed animal giveaways into the crowd.
Key and Peele produced and star in the film, while the latter was also a writer. “Keanu” is directed by Peter Atencio, another ingredient in their secret sauce; he has helmed every episode of their hit Comedy Central show. In other words, it’s an all-in-the-family affair.
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The film focuses on underachieving stoner Rel (Peele) and his best friend/cousin Clarence (Key), a suburban square whose very presence riffs on racial preconceptions. (Warner Bros.’ New Line made “Keanu” and will release it in theaters April 29.)
The title is a reference to, yes, that Keanu, only this time he’s a cat that saves Rel by showing up at his door after the stoner underwent a bad breakup--but whose disappearance sends him and Clarence on a crime-riddled spin through some of L.A.’s gang underworld. It’s that kind of movie.
The film is at its best when the pair, often in impossible situations, are given a chance to do their up-close loose sketch work. That means one-liners -- “We in the market for a new gangsta pet,” Clarence ad-libs quickly when Peele shows a little too much interest in retrieving his prized kitten in front of a violent toughie -- but it also means the kind of rubbery reactions, on-the-spot impressions and other character comedy that works so well in three-minute installments.
The personae they’re known for -- Key the kind of high-energy pleaser and Peele the slower-talking, shoulder-shaking too-cool-for-schooler stoner -- are on display here, but also get scrambled when, for instance, Key is forced to go gangster. Indeed, race is on their minds, both in white and black respective perceptions as well as competing notions of black identity, as when Clarence’s tweedily white demeanor drops for something more street.
Earlier in the week, Atencio told The Times this was all part of the movie’s ambition.
“The thesis of the show in a lot of ways was identity and where people feel comfortable and code-switching and different forms that identity can take on,” he said. “And that extends to the movie, and especially when it comes to masculinity and the expectations of men, and especially African American men, and how that changes depending on the context of their situation.” (He also said that “the thing that I’m really excited about is that it certainly is everything comedically that people love about the show, but it’s in a different packaging. The guys are playing characters that are very grounded and much closer to who they are as people.”)
In keeping with their style and the contractual requirements of modern comedies, a number of pop-culture in-jokes go beyond the title subject. A running George Michael gag gets closer to the patience threshold than a 1980s Top 40 radio station; more freshly, a celebrity cameo in the form of an unlikely actor lands nicely (let’s just say those who want to see a “Scary Movie” staple reach an untimely end will be satisfied).
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Kelly Rowland speaks during her “Chasing Destiny” SXSW interview at the Austin Convention Center on March 19.
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DJ Steve Aoki poses with a fan at the Pandora Discovery Den on March 19.
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The Roots brought their legendary Jam Sessions to the festival for the first time during an exclusive performance at the Bud Light Factory on March 19.
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Rapper Tory Lanez performs at the Pandora Discovery Den on March 18.
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Actor Paul Reubens answers questions at the premiere of “Pee-wee’s Big Holiday” at the Paramount Theatre on March 17.
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Actors Joe Manganiello and Sofia Vergara attend the premiere of “Pee-wee’s Big Holiday” at the Paramount Theatre on March 17.
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Wynonna Judd, center, with her band the Big Noise attend the Pandora Discovery Den on March 17.
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DNCE perform at Music Is Universal Styld.by Gap presented by Marriott Rewards and Universal Music Group at the JW Marriott Austin on March 17.
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Rae Sremmurd take the stage at the Bud Light Factory during the Interscope Showcase on March 17.
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Har Mar Superstar performs on a table at the McDonald’s Loft on March 17.
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The Cactus Blossoms perform onstage during the Pandora Discovery Den on March 17.
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Iggy Pop performs at ACL Live the Moody Theater on March 16.
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Chvrches’ Lauren Mayberry performs at the MTV Woodies/10 for ’16 taping on March 16.
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Anderson.Paak performs at the MTV Woodies/10 for ’16 taping on March 16.
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Ryan Adams performs at Music Is Universal on March 16.
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John Legend headlines the AXE Collective + Crew on March 17.
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Musicians Thao Nguyen, center, and the Avett Brothers attend a screening of “A Song For You: The Austin City Limits Story” on March 17.
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Actor-director Don Cheadle attends the screening of “Miles Ahead” on March 16,
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First Lady Michelle Obama speaks at the South by Southwest festival on March 16.
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Big Boi performs at South by Southwest Interactive’s closing party at Stubb’s on March 15.
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Actor Don Cheadle poses in the Samsung Studio at the South by Southwest festival on March 15.
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Aluna Francis of AlunaGeorge performs at Spotify House during the South by Southwest festival on March 15.
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From left, recording artists Sleepy Brown, Ray Murray and Rico Wade of Organized Noize attend a screening of “The Art of Organized Noize” at the Paramount Theatre during the South by Southwest festival on March 15.
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Texas meets Hollywood near the Paramount Theatre as the South by Southwest festival kicks off in Austin, Texas.
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A general view of “The Powerpuff Girls” parade and screening at SXSW on March 14.
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Seth Rogen, left, and Evan Goldberg answer questions at the premiere of the work-in-progress “Sausage Party” at the Paramount Theatre on March 14.
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Actor Greg Poehler, from left, actress Rachel Blanchard, “You Me Her” creator John Scott Shepherd and actresses Priscilla Faia and Melanie Papalia attend the SXSW premiere of AT&T’s Audience Network’s “You Me Her” on March 15.
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Actors Melanie Papalia, from left, Priscilla Faia and Greg Poehler attend a brunch celebrating the premiere of AT&T’s Audience Network’s “You Me Her” on March 15.
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Bella Thorne, a “Shovel Buddies” cast member, attends the movie’s South by Southwest screening on Monday.
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Motivational speaker Tony Robbins attends the screening of the documentary “Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru” on Monday.
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Andrew Jarecki, director of the documentary “The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst,” speaks at SXSW on Monday.
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Actor Craig Robinson, at SXSW with the movie “Morris From America,” poses for photos in the Samsung Studio on Monday.
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Comedian Hannibal Buress serves as host at the Spotify House on Monday.
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Rapper Tory Lanez performs at the Spotify House on Monday.
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Actors Dominic Cooper, from left, Ruth Negga and Joseph Gilgun attend the screening of “Preacher” at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas on Monday during the South By Southwest festival.
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Directors Evan Goldberg, left, and Seth Rogen attend the screening of “Preacher” at Paramount Theatre during SXSW on Monday.
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Director J.J. Abrams speaks after the screening of “Secrets of the Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey” at the Paramount Theatre during SXSW on Monday.
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R2-D2 attends the screening of “Secrets of The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey” at the Paramount Theatre during SXSW.
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Sia performs at Samsung Galaxy Life Fest at SXSW on March 13.
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Sia, background, and dancers perform at Samsung Galaxy Life Fest.
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Willie Nelson performs at the Spotify House during SXSW on March 13.
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James Caan attends a screening of his new film “The Waiting” at the Paramount Theatre on March 13.
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Andrei Dementiev, wearing the GoPro camera setup, attends a screening of “Hardcore Henry” at the Paramount Theatre on March 13.
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Singer Elle King performs onstage at Samsung Galaxy Life Fest at SXSW on March 13.
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Actor Johnny Galecki experiences Samsung Gear VR at the Samsung Studio at SXSW.
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Actresses Kate Micucci, left, Alia Shawkat and Gillian Jacobs at the Samsung Studio on March 13.
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Director Mike Birbiglia attends a screening of “Don’t Think Twice” at the Paramount Theatre on March 13.
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“Scandal” actress Kerry Washington speaks during South by Southwest at the Austin Convention Center.
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“Mr. Robot” actor Rami Malek speaks during South by Southwest.
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“Mr. Robot” actor Christian Slater speaks during South by Southwest.
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Anthony Bourdain speaks during South by Southwest at the Austin Convention Center.
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Jake Gyllenhaal, left, Jean-Marc Vallée and Bryan Sipe arrive at the screening of “Demolition” during South by Southwest at the Paramount Theatre.
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Actor Alexander Skarsgård, left, director John Michael McDonagh and actor Michael Peña at a screening of their new movie “War on Everyone” during the South by Southwest Film Festival.
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Actors Jordan Peele, left, and Keegan-Michael Key attend the screening of “Keanu” during the 2016 SXSW Music, Film + Interactive Festival in Austin.
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Miguel performs as part of the SteelHouse Concert Series during the South by Southwest Interactive Festival.
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Burt Reynolds sits on a 1977 Pontiac Trans-Am at the world premiere of “The Bandit” during the South by Southwest Film Festival.
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Ellen Page speaks at a panel discussion during South by Southwest.
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“Vice Principals” Georgia King, left, David Gordon Green, Jody Hill, Kimberly Hebert Gregory, Danny McBride and Walton Goggins gather during the South by Southwest Film Festival.
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Zoey Deutch arrives at the premiere of “Everybody Wants Some” at the Paramount Theatre.
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Director Richard Linklater at the premiere of “Everybody Wants Some” at the Paramount Theatre.
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Actors Glen Powell, left, Juston Street, Austin Amelio and Wyatt Russell at the Samsung Studio at SXSW.
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Dallas Mavericks wwner Mark Cuban speaks during “Sports and VR,” presented by Gear VR, at the Samsung Studio at SXSW.
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Festival goers experience Samsung Gear VR at the Samsung Studio at SXSW.
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Actors Nathan Parsons and Ksenia Solo at the Samsung Studio at SXSW.
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President Barack Obama, right, talks with Texas Tribune Editor in Chief/CEO Evan Smith at the Center for Performing Arts in Austin as part of the South by Southwest Festival.
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President Barack Obama waves upon his arrival on Air Force One at Austin Bergstrom International Airport. He’ll speak at SXSW and attend two Democratic National Committee fundraisers.
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The First Order, from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” has landed at SXSW.
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The Austin Convention Center is ready for the public’s arrival on the first day of South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, on Friday.
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A state trooper and a volunteer walk through the hall inside the Austin Convention Center before the public was let in on the first day of the South by Southwest festival.
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People line up inside the Austin Convention Center to register on the first day of SXSW.
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People wait in line to see President Obama participate in a South by Southwest interactive panel on March 11 in Austin, Texas.
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Visitors look over movie posters inside the Austin Convention Center at SXSW.
(Larry W. Smith / EPA) But the action-spoof moments don’t work as well, playing on every trope in the book with overdone absurdity, itself an overdone technique. As far back as 1980s comedies like “Adventures in Babysitting” were getting ordinary people into impossibly crime-riddled situations while, going back to Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker movies, many genre cliches were sent up with silliness. There are also at least six false endings.
The diminishing-returns rule of comedian-driven features, and the old line that five minutes of comedy can get weaker when it stretches to 105 minutes, is not always disproved here.
But “Keanu” is also admittedly a work in progress, and if there’s one thing Key and Peele have proved it’s their ability to react nimbly (not to mention read a zeitgeist).
Before the film started, Peele riffed on the idea. “if you like it,” he told the audience, this is the finished product. “If you don’t like it, we’re changing it.” he said, and this movie in fact isn’t their movie at all--it’s “‘John Wick 2.’” Here’s hoping by the end of next month they’ve retained all that works but made a few tweaks in the high-level spirit of that joke.
Times staff writer Mark Olsen contributed to this report.
@ZeitchikLAT
