Director Don Coscarelli (Phantasm series) describes Kenny & Company as a 'lost film,' and I'd be inclined to agree. It seems as if there are more people out there who have 'heard' of this film, rather than actually having seen it. This is all despite a brief US theatrical release from FOX and Tiger Beat style fame for it's young stars in Japan. I've known of the film for quite some time, but up until this Anchor Bay release, I'd never actually seen the film myself. Being a fan of quality children's films, particularly those set in the 60's and/or 70's, it was with bated breath that I awaited Anchor Bay's acquisition. While Kenny and Company may seem particularly simple in its execution, it's really anything but. This will hold particularly true for those of us who grew up in the 70's, and while I wasn't 12 until the mid 80's myself, I still have fond memories of this decade, and a lot of what's on display here still held true for most if not all of my childhood as well.

There's really not so much of a cohesive linear story to grasp onto here. What we basically have is a slew of scenarios that have been meticulously glued together. It all leads up to two major events in these characters lives; Halloween night and the impending destruction of the town bully. Was there anything else more important to a child in the 70's anyway?

While times may have changed, those growing up today may not view K&C so much as a time capsule as they may fantasy. This is a time when the bully only carried a fist, not a gun, and his primary concern was acquiring your milk money, maybe your fear (to boost his/her ego) and little else. This is a world in which we worried about putting our arms around the girl we like for the first time, discover the many joys of Playboy and have to deal with death when it's time to put our family dog to sleep. How about that 'dumb little kid' who lives across the street? He's a few years younger than you and your friends, but all he wants to do is tag along. Maybe you avoided riding your bike down the street that the bully lived on or tried to find a really big hill to ride your bike or skateboard down. Or maybe you were trying to impress your friends by ordering the 'Suicide' slushy, the one that had all of the flavors mixed together? Sure, it 'tasted like mud' - but it made you look super tough. Simple enough right? Or maybe Coscarelli just makes it all look so simple, as if there is no effort involved. But it can't be so simple, not when this no-budget film is one of the most honest and pure looks at childhood in the 70's.

There's very little to disagree with in Kenny & Company, and while a few of Coscarelli's interpretations didn't sit so right with me, most if not all seem to fit quite perfectly. However, there are those moments that left me scratching my head, if only just a bit. For example, in the film, Kenny and his friends really look up to those who are older than them. I did as well, and I usually thought the 'cooler older' kids were the one's who were in High School and drove etc. In Kenny & Company, they go to the older kids house to watch him get in a good work out. OK fair enough. Except for the homoerotic outfit that they have this guy dressed in. Seeing Kenny and pals sitting on a bench watching this shirtless specimen named 'Roy' in the shortest and tightest of jean shorts (slit up the sides as well) was only slightly disconcerting to me. Then there's the description they gave for getting a girl pregnant. Something about spitting a pill down her throat while you're both naked? I think we can do slightly better than that kids, but still, who am I to judge? At 12, I certainly wouldn't have known what to do. We've come a long way since then...or have we?

Which brings me to my next point...the kids. During the audio commentary and featurette, Coscarelli openly explains how this film was essentially a hometown project and they treated the shooting schedule 'like summer camp' - and it certainly shows. These seem less like performances than it does just raw footage of these kids, just being kids. Surely another reason why everything works so well. It's all frighteningly genuine, so much so that the viewer almost feels as if he/she is watching a documentary. Scary.

Video quality is quite surprising, when you take into account what Anchor Bay must have had to deal with. Any inconsistencies in the transfer appear to stem from the source material. Many scenes are bright and colorful, with only the occasionaly displayed muted color or grain. Many scenes suffer from a dreary soft focus look, but once again, this most definitely stems from the source. The mono audio is quite serviceable with no distortion to speak of. Extras include a 10-minute featurette, which includes interviews with a few key players, a feature length commentary track with Coscarelli, Producer Paul Pepperman and actor Michael Baldwin, 2 TV spots and a Coscarelli BIO.

Kenny and Company appears to be light in its execution, but in the end it's anything but. The film is surprisingly genuine, and despite a few saccharine sweet moments, and 'Roy' - ranks up there as one of the best translations of childhood to film. Thank you Anchor Bay, for finally giving this fine 'specimen' of a film a real chance at finding a well-deserved audience. Highly recommended.