Who Is KK Downey? (2008) Online

Just saw this movie tonight, as part of the Philadelphia Film Festival, and was very surprised at how well written and amusing it was.

Terrance is twenty-something unemployed loser, with dreams of becoming famous. Unfortunately, his band sucks, and he's is still in love with his ex...who is dating a pretentious douchebag with unfortunate fashion taste.

His best friend is Theo, a chubby, soft spoken writer, who has finally finished his novel "Truckstop Hustler". The filthy story tells the tale of a trans-gender whore, whose only joys are intravenous drugs and random sexual escapades. Unfortunately, it has been deemed "unpublishable", due to the fact that Theo is only a suburban white kid.

The two come up with a plan...Terrance will impersonate the main character of the book, KK Downey, and act as though he had written it as a personal memoir. Before they know it, every hipster in town has a copy, and KK Downey becomes the new Scenester American Idol. Little did they know that living a web of lies in the eyes of the public would turn into such a mess. Failed suicide attempts, girls tied to chairs, and drug induced knife fights are just the beginning.

"Who is KK Downey" is an extremely dark, and absolutely hysterical film about the price people are willing to pay for fame. There were several instances when I nearly fell off of my seat laughing. If there is any justice in the world, this movie will reach cult status, because it is well deserving of such. Highly recommended for anyone that appreciates a sick joke (or twenty), and loves dark comedy.

I just watched this movie tonight and felt compelled to give it a positive review. Even though I am a few years older than the characters in this movie the art fag gaze magazine and self righteous cliques hit home. This film made me laugh out loud several times. It gets so ridiculous with the Cosby show namesake to the mental flashbacks to the family relationships that you can't help but laugh. The acting is not great and the whole thing is far from believable but I am sure was not meant to be. I think the folks responsible for this film could have a bright future. I think I need to see this movie again. Could defiantly become a cult classic if enough people give it a chance.

The Highlight of the Raindance Film Festival 2008 for me was Canada's Who is KK Downey?, a fantastic film and the first feature length production from Kidnapper Films it is jam packed with talent and hilariously funny.

Actor/Directors Darren Curtis and Pat Kiely are particularly brilliant creating an experience in this unforced zany comedy that is simply delicious and left me a little bit in awe of and in love with them both.

Hard to describe, the innovative plot revolves around wannabe rock star, Terrance, who wants his ex girlfriend back from her new beau, pretentious journalist Connor Rooney, and Terrance's best friend Theo who dreams of being a successful author. Fed up of getting nowhere the two hatch a plan to turn Theo's gritty but fictional book Truck Stop Hustler into an 'autobiography' by creating a fake protagonist in the enigma that is KK Downey. As KK's popularity rockets the friends towards everything they dreamed of there are twists turns and downsides to the celebrity they have so long wished for and the characters each learn the price they must pay for the things they want and learn to discover and value the unique qualities in themselves and each other.

One of the best and most original films I've seen in ages, Who is KK Downey is a courageous example of everything that's great in indie film-making. It's brilliantly written with a flawless plot and fantastic characters, sensitively acted by an ensemble cast, rich with imagery and cool locations and is shot and scored brilliantly. The film has it's own unique look, sounds great, and is coolness personified with loads of inventive film-making technique packed in for good measure and plenty of funny moments to boot.

It's simply put, the best fun I've had in a big dark room full of strangers!

I ranked this the second best of 2008, behind only "Forgetting Sarah Marshall". If you're tired of big budget, unfunny comedies clogging up the multiplexes and video stores, this might be the treasure you've been waiting for. The Kidnapper Films gang have made a remarkable feature, which in the era of reality TV and high profile plagiarism, is like a quasi-documentary in the tradition of "This Is Spinal Tap". All this for a quarter million!

Best buds Darren Curtis and Matt Silver are both pining away. Curtis for his ex, played by the luminous Kristin Adams. And Silver for fame and fortune he thinks his novel will bring him. Then "reality" intrudes, in the form of Pat Kiely as Adams' new boyfriend. And Dan Haber, in a role so deranged, trying to describe him here would only ruin a shift in plot one should experience when watching this for the first time. And give this multiple viewings, so the rock solid script and acting, perfectly cast down to the smallest part, can truly be valued.

Curtis is a strong male lead and Silver has the presence of a young John Lithgow. Adams is the sweet, but strong core of the story who holds it all together. Kiely struts through his pseudo-intellectual role with the macho bluster of a college jock from an 80's flick. And Haber has to be seen (and heard) to be believed. Do yourself a favour and check this out. I did, eight times!