Loosely based on the JT Leroy controversy, the film stars Darren Curtis and Matt Silver as Terrance Permenstein and Theo Huxtable, two friends who invent the character of KK Downey, a transgender street prostitute, as the "author" of Theo's novel Truck Stop Hustler after it gets rejected by a publisher because Theo comes across too white and middle-class to be believable as the writer of a book about street life, with Terrance donning drag to play Downey. Kiely also stars as Connor Rooney, a music journalist who becomes suspicious of Downey's story and tries to hunt down the truth.[2]
The film was created through the Montreal comedy troupe Kidnapper Films.[3]Paul Spence, Brent Skagford and Dan Beirne also appear in supporting roles.
The film was released on DVD in Canada on April 14, 2009 by Koch International,[4] and on DVD in the United States by Indiepix in October 2009.
Reception
Philip Brown of Exclaim! called the film "easily the funniest Canadian film to hit screens in decades", writing that "I've got a feeling that a few years from now we may all look back at Who Is KK Downey? as the beginning of some pretty big comedy careers.[2]
Liam Lacey of The Globe and Mail gave the film three stars and referred to it as "rude and blessedly tasteless, without any sense the creators have any agenda except to be funny."[5]
John Griffin of the Montreal Gazette wrote that "Who is KK Downey? concedes little to conventional film notions of beauty, taste or narrative arc, preferring to rely on the brains, wit and energy of its cast and writers, and the formidable ensemble power of local musicians, crew, producers and locations. This is a DIY basement enterprise, with the good humour, hardcore ethos and sheer hustle to pull it all together. You're either with Who is KK Downey? or you're not. I'm there. You could be, too."[6]
↑ John Griffin, "Film school rejects make own fun - and a hit flick; Kidnapper comedy collective blames their West End anglo roots for the success of Who is KK Downey?". Montreal Gazette, September 6, 2008.
↑ "Who Is KK Downey: it's lewd, crude, rude and good". Montreal Gazette, April 17, 2009.
↑ Liam Lacey, "Cheery satire is strictly for laughs". The Globe and Mail, October 27, 2008.
↑ John Griffin, "Hardcore Hustle; Montreal's Kidnapper Films mocks convention and celebrity in Who is KK Downey? The result is a winning display of talent, wit and bad haircuts". Montreal Gazette, September 5, 2008.
↑ "Nomination pour une designer gaspésienne". La Voix du Restigouche, February 19, 2009.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
