Search - Kenny on DVD

Mockumentary That's Funnier Than the Real Thing but No Less

mirasreviews | McLean, VA USA | 10/06/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Kenny" was a big hit in Australia, where it was made by the Jacobson brothers: Clayton, who writes, directs, and produces, and Shane, who writes, produces, and stars as Kenny Smyth, port-a-potty man. This s a mockumentary deliberately made to look amateurish, so it doesn't' suffer for its low budget and handheld camera. The brothers' father Ronald Jacobson and Clayton's wife and son are in the film as well, so it seems like a family project. Kenny is an unassuming, easy-going employee of Splashdown, a company that furnishes "corporate bathroom rentals". He speaks frankly about the life and work of a man who plumbs poo for a living to a documentary film crew that follows him to all kinds of events that need potties and, finally, to a big Pumper and Cleaner Expo in the USA.

I don't think I've ever seen a greater burden put on one actor to carry a movie. Kenny is at the center of every scene. His blunt talk and surprisingly good nature combine to make him a lovable working class hero. Director Clayton Jacobson has found a way to get good dialogue in a loosely scripted film, and that is to tell the actors what the character says in general terms and let them put it in their own words. Shane Jacobson is a veteran of the stage and conveys an almost hyper-genuineness in his manner and speech. Many of the other actors are non-professionals. And Splashdown is a real company. Its owner really is Glenn Preusker, and we see real employees in the film. Kenny's not real, but his friendliness and gift for understatement are enormously appealing.

The DVD (Xenon 2008): There are 16 deleted scenes, a theatrical trailer, 4 featurettes, and an audio commentary. "The Making of Kenny" (44 min) is a full-featured documentary that interviews the Jacobsons, their family, cast, and others about the film and its appeal, from the project's conception to its warm reception in Australia. "Post Production" (5 min) is about editing and recording the sound. "Directing in Nashville" (9 min) joins the cast and crew filming in the US. The director talks about working with non-actors and filming on locations. "Shootin the Sh*% with the Cast and Crew" (6 min) are outtakes. The audio commentary is with Clayton Jacobson and Shane Jacobson in the character of Kenny, so it is a sort of continuation of the film. The film is optionally subtitled in English to help with the accents and the fact that Kenny slurs a bit."

Just saw Kenny at Traverse City Film Festival

Jere Brown | Traverse City, MI | 08/01/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Just saw Kenny at the Traverse City Film Festival and Michael Moore was right! This movie had the audience in absolute stitches... very clever and well paced. Highly recommended"