Canadian International Pictures

Keanu & Co.

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This listing is for the standard edition Blu-ray. The limited edition slipcover (designed by Robert Sammelin) was limited to 1,000 units and is sold out. The two versions are identical, aside from the slipcover.

From arthouse to Canuxploitation, Canadian International Pictures (CIP) is devoted to resurrecting vital, distinctive, and overlooked triumphs of Canadian cinema. This label is focused on the country’s original cinematic boom years – spanning the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s – occasionally venturing past that period (and the country’s borders) to highlight the films of Canada’s most inspired actors and filmmakers. Vinegar Syndrome’s sister company, OCN Distribution, is thrilled to be representing CIP's brand new line of home video releases!

Before Johnny Utah, before Neo, before John Wick, there was… Ron.

Keanu Reeves gave his first lead performance in 1985’s One Step Away, establishing the charm and vulnerability of his beloved screen persona while exploring the pitfalls of juvenile delinquency. The film was directed by Robert Fortier, a seasoned documentarian venturing deeper into fiction filmmaking following the success of his daredevil stunt-driving doc The Devil at Your Heels. Keanu & Co. collects three of the films he directed for the NFB’s Family Crisis Series – including Keanu’s essential debut – vividly evoking the spirit of the After School Special and its ’80s heyday.

In Out of a Job, Dan Lett (The Shape of Water) plays a young engineer who returns to the home of his parents and computer whiz brother after his promising career abruptly falls apart. In One Step Away, Keanu Reeves plays Ron, a troubled teen struggling to overcome peer pressure and his own criminal impulses when his latest arrest derails the life of his single mother (Diana Belshaw). Finally, in the shocking thriller Running Scared, Stephen Mendel (Jack Frost) plays an intensely jealous boyfriend whose spying and scolding ways rapidly escalate to full blown stalking.

directed by: Robert Fortier
starring: Keanu Reeves, Dan Lett, Dan MacDonald, Diana Belshaw, Stephen Mendel, Wanda Cannon
1985-1986 / 85 min / 1.33:1 / English DTS-HD MA 2.0

Additional info:

Region Free Blu-ray
Scanned and restored in 2K from the 16mm interpositives by the National Film Board of Canada
New audio commentary featuring Paul Corupe of Canuxploitation.com and film historian Jason Pichonsky
An Excellent Adventure (2024, 15 min.) – New interview with One Step Away star Diana Belshaw
Unsettled on the Set (2024, 11 min.) – New interview with Running Scared star Stephen Mendel
An Actor Remembers (2024, 13 min.) – Mendel reflects on his body of work
Job Well Done (2024, 14 min.) – New interview with Out of a Job star Dan Lett
On the Job (2024, 18 min.) – Lett reflects on his body of work
A Single Regret (1983, 22 min.) – Another Family Crisis Series short directed by Fortier
A Gift for Kate (1986, 28 min.) – Family Crisis Series short directed by John N. Smith (Dangerous Minds)
The Painted Door (1984, 24 min.) – Short written by One Step Away screenwriter Joe Wiesenfeld and directed by Bruce Pittman (Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II)
Going to War (1985, 24 min.) – Short written by Wiesenfeld based on a short story by Timothy Findley (Don’t Let the Angels Fall)
End of a Summer Day (1971, 9 min.) – Fortier’s directorial debut
One Step Away in SD (1985, 29 min.) – Reeves’s debut as seen in the VHS era
Booklet featuring a reproduction of the Family Crisis Series viewer’s guide, outlining “suggestions for film use” and other activities
Reversible cover artwork
English SDH subtitles

Overall rating: 4.5423727 / 5 from 118 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

Keanu & Co. is a Blu-ray collection featuring Keanu Reeves' early films from Canadian International Pictures, praised for its excellent restoration, quality, and engaging Canadian short films. Customers highly recommend it for fans of Reeves and classic Canadian cinema.

Summary topics

Release Quality: 20%
Product Quality: 7%
Film Appeal: 11%
Keanu Reeves Appeal: 12%
Collection Appeal: 18%

Review topics: ["quality","looks","packaging","picture","issues","work","collection","release","film","keanu","movie","restoration","shorts","transfer","acting","entry","slipcover","story","critics","title","watch","surprise","specials","label","features","episode","slip","actress","rarity","fan"].

Review highlights

"Some of the best restorations ever done to film, the quality is superb just simply the best and the box art just WOW!" — DANIEL R.
"Good picture and sound quality, presented with a nice slip cover design." — David P.
"And the other two shorts are classic slightly weird Canadian short films!" — Adam L.

Reviews

Woah!

"3 shorts. incredible 1980s time capsule and Keanu!"

— Kevin G. (5/5)

Keanu does Canada

"I wish I could live in a time when there is absolutely insane films taught a generation Canadians absolutely nothing. These are absolutely insane and fun In all the best ways."

— Juan V. (5/5)

Nice films I’d never heard of

"Nice to add to the Canadian collection, where keanu reeves started off, stunning transfer"

— Rohan J. (3/5)

love it

"Cool shorts from one of my favorite partner labels. Nice to have them collected on one disc."

— Ian D. (3/5)

Riveting Stuff

"💼 Out Of A Job - I love the nostalgic 80s score and feel. Just pure 80s corniness but with how insane people are in 2025, I miss it dearly. This is actually quite comical. Overall a good message and a perfect watch if you only have time for a half hour movie. 👟 One Step Away - badass guitar licks are rippin in the background throughout, especially the ending credits. The picture in all these are super clear, sound quality is great too. That’s impressive for segments released on Canadian television in the 80s. There should really stuff like this brought back to television like this again - no agendas just a wholesome message; people need it bad! Pretty corny but wholesome. 🏃 Running Scared - great opening music. The main dude looks just like Tom Jane, probably his uncle or something. One of the other characters is actually from the first segment “Out Of A Job”. I love the wailing suspense guitar riffs hahahaha. This whole collection is 80s cheeseball central. These are the three featured Shortfilms but there are actually 8 specials in total, 9 if you include “One Step Away” in SD. Additionally there is commentary and five interviews. The slipcover is great and sold fairly quickly, people had plenty of time to grab a copy though. The restoration for this collection was done well. It’s all a matter of how much you want that slip really. Overall I’m glad I bought this collection."

— Rory K. (5/5)

Keanu after school

"Basically a couple of after school specials, but a lot of fun. Tons of special features and a nice size booklet."

— Anthony L. (4/5)

Charming Release

"Very charming and nostalgic. Highly recommended."

— Jeffrey L. (4/5)

Entertaining public service shorts collection

"A collection of Canadian public service short films dealing with various family crises. Most recognizable is the appearance of Keanu Reeves as the lead in one of the stories. A couple other familiar actors and actresses. I didn't jump on this soon enough to get the slipcover."

— Kresh R. (3/5)

Keanu and Co.

"Love these made for tv type movies. So many of these were made in Canada. This is just a nice movie and any fan of Keanu Reeves should own this. Love that vinegar and the partner labels release these type of movies. Very cool to see."

— Anthony R. (5/5)

Had Never Seen These

"What a great find these are!"

— Andrew K. (5/5)