… I swear to God, it’s like somebody took America by the East Coast, and shook it, and all the normal girls managed to hang on…
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang is a surprisingly funny and clever film fro 2005, directed by Shane Black(Lethal Weapon, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Last Action Hero). Starring Robert Downey Jr, Val Kilmer and Michelle Monaghan, this film is full of odd humor, quirky remarks that just tickle your funny bone and still after some composure on the viewer’s part maintains a plot.
The movie begins when petty thief, Harry Lockhart(Downey) is in the midst of a theft and as he escapes from the police, he finds himself in the middle of an audition for a film. He is outstanding as he just gets into the role, which happens to be that of a private detective. To his own amazement, he gets the part. To prepare him for the role, he shadows Gay Perry(Kilmer), a real Private Investigator who is on a case and right in the middle of gangsters, women, murder, cover-ups and deceit.
Lockhart, although a bit apprehensive, plays along learning all he can and adding a bit of his own humor to the story. He is also the narrator of our story, which gives the story another spin on the old “Detective series” type stories that we have come to appreciate in Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer and the like.
The storyline is confusing at first but if you stick with it and role with the punches, this film will really entertain you. Downey is truly talented and although some parts are suited for him, such as “feigning” a drug stupor when his finger gets amputated, you can truly see his talent shine.
This film is full of black humor and one that I was at first apprehensive about seeing. If not for Robert Downey Jr., I might have missed it. Without him, it would have been a miss for me. There are some really great action scenes, superb writing and funny scenarios with a final wrap up to the story that really is satisfying. For sure worth watching if you enjoy the genre and if you are a collector as I am, worth buying and watching over and over.
Nominated and won for many awards, including best thriller, best actor, best supporting actor, best comedy movie, screenwriter of the year….
See it!