Kenny

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There is only so much entertainment to be had from a porta-loo attendant. Because the mockumentary self-evidently is on Kenny and his porta-loo duties it has weak, flimsy appeal and cannot branch-out far enough to be of substantial interest. The 'candid' on-going mockumentary falls flat in essence because it is stereotypical of what to expect - It felt contrived. It does not have the innocent, real-time feel of the excellent Spinal Tap. I confess I only watched half the film - but it consisted of predominantly ineffective humour and an inability to empathise for Kenny and his dilemmas.

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.

source: Kenny

This is a very funny and well scripted and acted mockumentary about a nice Australian bloke who works to set up and run portable toilets at outdoor events like rock concerts and race course galas. What's funny about that? The dry wit of it all and the hilarious dialog. KENNY has enjoyed excellent reviews from mainstream media in Australia and could easily become a family cult favorite like THE CASTLE did in the 90s. As a farce doco, like BEST IN SHOW or A MIGHTY WIND it traces believable people in their habitat clashing and traveling and winning their respective day. No the jokes are not all about body functions even if the theme of the film is. It is a surprisingly hilarious movie because of the main actor, Shane, one of the Jacobsen Brothers who created the idea for the film. BUT I also warn viewers to sit a mile away from the screen: KENNY is the worst photographed film in recent memory. Infuriatingly filmed with gawking close-up wobble-cam, the idiotic hand-held 'you are there one inch away' school of reality filming, I almost gave up on my enjoyment of KENNY just to get away from the screen. The sooner someone re introduces the concept of using a tripod to film schools nationwide, the happier I will be. Great film, KENNY, shame about the visual obstacle course to enjoy.

After reading so many positive reviews, I expected much more than this. The toilet jokes were quite funny, but to be honest I expected more. Very few, if any, were side-splitting funny. (By the way the toilet humour was not offensive. I think the "M" rating (in Australia) was more for the more-than-occasional use of the "F" word.) But my main complaint is that the film drags on. For a mockumentary (or any other feature length film) to work, it needs to have a decent plot. Alas, this film just meandered through Kenny's life, with no real connection between the scenes. Some of the scenes were repetitive and they could have cut a few. The camping scene in particular I thought was pointless. Also the climax of the film, while funny, was out of character for Kenny. Pleasant, but don't go with your expectations too high.

I saw "Kenny" at the Australian Film Institute (AFI) judging screenings last night. I was not sure how I was going to respond to 103 minutes of cinematic toilet humour, especially since the critics seemed to damning it with faint praise. "Episodic structure" seemed to be the consensus of those inclined to be condescending and patronizing rather than just plain dismissive. I had just forced myself to sit through the worst of the films screened and was on the verge of walking out after the first ten minutes of the cacophonous, loud and vulgar narration delivered with a speech impediment ("s" pronounced as "sh") by the film's hero, Kenny. But then his rather down-to-earth metaphysical speculations in response to his son's inquiry as to the state of his spiritual wellbeing (his ex-wife had suggested to their son that he was going to hell) suddenly cut through all that noise-some clamour. His harassed, but good-natured prognostications on such questions cast the whole "Kenny" persona in a new light. Kenny breathes new life into that tired old cliché, the archetypical Aussie Battler. He finds fulfillment and meaning in performing the most menial and unpleasant of social functions. He is on the lowest rung of the "gainfully-employed" socio-economic ladder but he is happier, better adjusted and a whole lot more fun than just about everyone else clinging grimly to the rungs above him. The whole Jacobson family (grandfather, sons, grandsons in the principal roles as well as writing, producing and directing) has succeeded beyond all reasonable expectations. With this deceptively simple and cleverly paced film they have realized the accomplishment that has so far eluded Paul Hogan. They have captured all that wonderful matter-of-fact charm and good-natured common sense and distilled it into the new advent of Michael J (Crocodile) Dundee, albeit in the guise of a purveyor of portable toilet facilities. I remember someone asking, "Does anyone know what is going on?" about half way through "Crocodile Dundee II". My response was, "Does anyone care?" I cared about Kenny. Maybe he depicts the true human condition. Making a worthwhile life amid the decay and detritus that surrounds him. AFI members get to vote for four choices for best film award, presented at the ceremony, which was hosted by Russell Crowe, last year. I had decided on "MacBeth" and "Ten Canoes" for my first and second votes, and as I watched Kenny leaving the air hostess he met on his way to America for his father's sick-bed, I said to myself, "If the film reunites him with that lady, I will vote it in as third choice. If not, I will vote it fourth" You can see the resonances between "Kenny" and "Crocodile Dundee" from the foregoing. Both are charismatic figures outside the main-stream of Australian society Both have suffered short-lived marriages Both re-discover the joys of female companionship under unlikely circumstances Both can speculate on matters of morality, ethics and metaphysical questions in pithy but not superficial down-to-earth analogies Both are plucked on wings of flight from the humdrum of their daily lives to New World USA. Both exhibit a gregarious and unfailing willingness to share their common humanity with rank strangers who would initially prefer to remain at arm's length. It may not be "MacBeth" or "Ten Canoes", but "Kenny" is a terrific example of modern Australian cinema. Paul Hogan. Time for you to come back to your roots.

Comparisons to the castle are simply not deserved. This movie was a nice try for a first attempt on a low budget and good luck to the production team, but it was just low brow high school humor. Australia really struggles to produce decent comedy with a few notable exceptions. Before giving the thumbs up to this sort of boring fare ask yourself if you have an IQ over 70? Funny: The Dgen, Mother and Son, Hogan, The Castle Not Funny: Comedy Company, Cath & Kim, Kenny The castle was clever, witty and well written, Kenny struggled to stretch a poo joke to fill 90 mins, yes poo is hilarious yawn. This is Cath & Kim type humor, yes I know lots of people watch it but its still a pile of steaming. In short a decent first attempt but beyond that you are just polishing a turd.

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.