Story
Kenny (Shane Jacobsen) is a hard-working employee of Splash Down, Corporate Bathroom Rentals. He tries hard to provide serviceable and clean public toilets at large corporate events, but his efforts are rarely appreciated. He is also looked upon with disdain by those he serves. But Kenny undertakes his work with dignity, infinite patience and a generous sense of humour.
As he works through the calendar’s year of events, he must also manage his unruly team of workers, find the time to cope with an ungrateful family who are embarrassed by him, and maintain diplomatic relations with a demanding ex-wife for the sake of his son. Kenny shares his thoughts and musings on his experiences, good and bad, and we share in his occasional victories.
Themes
Family; workplace relations
Violence
Sexual references
- Kenny refers to his prong, meaning his penis.
- Kenny describes a dog passing a stool as an act of ‘bending over like it’s trying to root a cricket ball’.
- Scenes at the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras show people are dressed in S&M clothing.
- Kenny refers to sex as a ‘horizontal folk dance’.
- Kenny asks his friend whether he thinks ‘all the girls on Virgin Blue are virgins’.
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
- Many scenes show people drinking alcohol. This consumption is associated with good fun, but also largely with poor behaviour.
- After drinking with friends after work, Kenny responsibly stays over in his mate’s caravan to avoid drink driving.
- At a music festival, Kenny refers to the fact that the young attendees often smoke ‘wacky tobacky’ and take other drugs too.
Nudity and sexual activity
- Kenny is shown waist up while showering.
- At the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, some people are dressed in costumes that expose their backsides.
- A man is shown handcuffed and naked in one of the toilets after a bucks night party goes too far. There is no frontal nudity.
Product placement
The beer Victoria Bitter (VB) is displayed and used in this movie.
Coarse language
This movie contains frequent mild to medium-level coarse language.
Ideas to discuss with your children
Kenny is a feel-good mockumentary about life and the philosophy of a decent hard-working man. The movie progresses at a slow pace, but as the character and humour of Kenny are gradually revealed, the appeal of the movie becomes evident. Younger children might find it dull and confusing. Older children and adults will appreciate Kenny’s approach to the troubles in his life.
The main message from this movie is that no matter what people do in life, they can undertake it to the best of their abilities, with self-respect, and respect and compassion for others. The movie also presents the following values:
- self-respect
- compassion
- caring for and respecting family
- treating all people equally
- looking for the positive in all situations
- the benefits of finding a positive outlet for anger or frustration.
This movie gives you the opportunity to discuss with your children real-life consequences of behaviours such as excessive consumption of alcohol, racism and homophobia.