Kenny (2007) Movie Information:

Kenny (2007) Directed by: Clayton Jacobson Kenny (2007) Written by: Clayton Jacobson, Shane Jacobson Kenny (2007) Cast: Shane Jacobson, Ronald Jacobson, Jesse Jacobson, Clayton Jacobson, Eve von Bibra, Morihiko Hasebe, Chris Davis, Ian Dryden, Glenn Preusker, Mark Robertson, Hayley Preusker, Kim Dryden

Kenny (2007) U.S. Distributor: Not available at this time Kenny (2007) U.K. Distributor: Odeon Sky Filmworks

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Kenny (2007) Synopsis:

In Melbourne, Kenny Smyth (Shane Jacobson) supplies temporary toilets for everything from street festivals to church fetes. He's not remotely oblivious to the revulsion he inspires in everyone he meets, including his brother and father (played by his real brother and father Clayton and Ronald), but he takes pride in his job. And even if his ex-wife couldn't cope with his career, she still can't turn their son (Jesse) against him. When he gets the chance to represent his firm at a toilet expo in Nashville, the trip could change his life.

Kenny (2007) Movie Review:

This ingenious mock-doc is a portrait of an unsung hero who works in one of the ickiest jobs imaginable, and yet he's so deeply likeable that by the end we want to give him a hug. Well, almost.

In Melbourne, Kenny Smyth (Shane Jacobson) supplies temporary toilets for everything from street festivals to church fetes. He's not remotely oblivious to the revulsion he inspires in everyone he meets, including his brother and father (played by his real brother and father Clayton and Ronald), but he takes pride in his job. And even if his ex-wife couldn't cope with his career, she still can't turn their son (Jesse) against him. When he gets the chance to represent his firm at a toilet expo in Nashville, the trip could change his life.

Shot like a fly-on-the-wall video documentary, the film was shot completely on location as Shane worked alongside a real porta-loo crew (plus actors Davis and Dryden, playing colourful colleagues). The story is told in fine Aussie tradition, with bone-dry humour and satire that takes no prisoners with its pointed jabs and soft heart. Virtually every line contains a joke or pun about excrement (a rival's slogan: "We're number 1 with your number 2"), and once the shock value subsides, it's both genuinely funny and surprisingly sweet.

Essentially, this is a nonstop comedy about poo. But it's also an astute look at true human dignity--careers, families, romance, loyalty. Kenny is proud of the fact that he does his job well, and Shane beautifully combines inner resilience and true compassion with deadpan comical timing. "I don't do this job for the glory," he says, matter-of-factly. "No one is ever impressed by my career." He's a big teddy bear who lives alone and dotes on his son, finds love in an unexpected place and doesn't really mind being a member of society's untouchable class.

This side of his character adds some strong depth even when the plot stalls about two-thirds in. Some judicious editing would have kept it crackling, but it definitely sparks up again at the end with telling sequences involving Kenny's dad and brother, plus the climactic job at the Melbourne Cup. Smart and hilarious.

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Kenny (2007) review written by: Rich Cline