Kenny

Kenny is the funniest, sweetest and most clever Aussie comedy since Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Muriel's Wedding. It is bitter sweet in t he style of both Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Muriel's Wedding. Want to laugh like hell and feel for the character of Kenny then watch Kenny. My elderly Mother did not realize that Kenny was a mockumentary until near the end of the film. She thought it was a straight documentary - bless her cotton socks. I am a New Zealander and Aussie culture is very near our culture but I am sure if you are American or British or Mongolian you will enjoy Kenny. Really – so go on and watch, fast.

The mockumentary format, mostly seen on TV in shows like "People Like Us" (though Christopher Guest in "Spinal Tap" pioneered the form in film), is still novel enough to spring a few surprises. Shane Jacobson as Kenny the Melbourne port-a–loo man is both a surprise and a pleasure. Filmed on a shoestring budget, this film's cheeky manner and adroit editing kept me engaged to the end.

No public event is too big for Kenny and his team as they cater for the lavatorial needs of the public at pop concerts, motor races, sports events and in the grand finale, the Melbourne Cup. In the meantime the good-natured Kenny has to cope with an ex-wife meaner than a junkyard dog, a son he needs to see more of, a difficult and demanding elderly father and less than satisfactory employees. One good piece of fortune does come his way when he scores a trip to Nashville, Tennessee, to a grand poo-collector's convention and meets a nice young lady who's actually interested in him. The plot is a bit on the corny side but that doesn't matter – it's the humour that counts.

As with most mockumentaries the narration plays against what the characters are actually doing, but the dissonance sneaks up on you. Kenny however is not deluded like Ricky Gervais' character "David Brent" in the office – he is a realist. He is also immensely likable. Usually with mockumentaries there is a cringe factor as the hapless protagonist blunders from one faux pas to another (witness David Brent), but that's not the case here. Despite his private life Kenny is immensely capable at work and with him around we know things will turn out all right. Whether it's a ring down the toilet, arson-minded speedway fans, or the victim of a buck's night chained to one of his units, we are confident Kenny will sort it out, the fun is in how.

I hate the expression "gem" but that's what this film is. It's a celebration of the Australian working man, with truth as well as humour. Kenny's final revenge-taking on an arrogant motorist who had boxed his truck in seemed a little out of character, but perhaps justified in the circumstances.

P.S. SNOB ALERT: The upper classes are portrayed as having very little charm indeed.

This is a truly wonderful film. The acting, direction and camera-work really give it a realistic and believable feel - I actually forgot that the film was fictional while watching it. I resent a comment posted earlier on this site suggesting that this film should only be released in Australia because they are the only ones who can truly appreciate it. That's exactly the mentality that keeps these types of authentic, quirky movies struggling and big budget airhead movies so comfortable. Being Canadian does not necessarily mean I can only appreciate Canadian film, and Canadian film has no place in the global market - that's ridiculous! "Kenny" is a perfect example of a small film with a very particular focus and a healthy approach to local charm and quirkiness. Whether you've heard any of his hilarious expressions before or not, they will still be adorably funny. The characters are genuine, the story is charming and the artistic vision is strong. Obviously different cultures will appreciate films differently but I really believe that this film merits as much success as it can find. I hate to gush but really, this movie deserves much props.

We saw an advanced screening of Kenny tonight.

It is hilariously funny, utterly charming and - at times - heart-breakingly honest. The quality of the script and dialogue is only surpassed by the acting.

Kenny is completely believable as a character and typifies the very best qualities of Australian culture, particularly that of the hard-working bloke, in my opinion. It's nice to watch a movie about a genuinely good guy.

Kenny is a hero who shows audiences that doing a hard job well, with justifiable pride, deserves respect - regardless of what the job entails.

Loved it.

Kenny was a pleasant surprise at the video store. At first,I thought it was a real documentary. Later, a few scenes were a bit obvious, but the overall look and fell of it was real. The lead as Kenny, was so believable as this character. The Aussie sense of humor has always been hilarious. When you realize that what one person views as sick, another views as a profession, it tells you just about the limit of our own perspectives. The people who do this kind of work are the independent people who function beyond what we view as respectable. But it is these type of people, the ones who take care of all our basic animal functions, that allow us to operate at the next level. Just imagine what it would be like to have to dispose of all our waste. No thanks!! I actually know someone who does this for a living, although not at Kenny's level! Just like what Kenny says in the film, There will always be a need for this type of thing. What is also funny is just regular situations, like the fish-out-of-water in Nashville who has a child-like fascination for the cutting edge of his craft, not unlike the computer enthusiast at Comdex(this was kind of a Comdex for the crap industry!). Also, most Aussie would be welcome and fit in perfect in Tennessee, which is a state with a healthy respect for this type of man. Overall, I thought this was hilarious, just the way it was written and the natural flow of the events in the film. Average people who just show up for work and do their jobs are not represented nearly enough in film. All we usually get is Beauties and Freaks. The extremes which are not really representative of most. Kenny is everyman, really.