Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang…
Monday, July 28, 2008
Robert Downey, Jr. & Val Kilmer in Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang
“SeX. MurdEr. MyStery. Welcome to the party.”
This is one of those movies that I knew as I was leaving the theater, I’d buy as soon as it came out on DVD because it was so clever and so hilarious. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a dark comedy about a small time thief named Harry Lockhart [Robert Downey, Jr.] who practically falls into a movie audition while trying to get away from the cops after a job gone bad, and due to the raw emotions of said botched job, he astounds the panel and is offered the role on the spot. Thinking it was as good a way out as any, Harry plays along and is sent to Hollywood where he’s paired up with a private detective to research his new role. He accompanies private eye Perry Van Shrike, a.k.a ‘Gay Perry’ [Val Kilmer] on a case that takes them to a party, hosted by an aging actor [Corbin Bersen] known for playing detective roles in movies, who has a vested interest in the movie Harry auditioned for. It’s at this party where Harry discovers his childhood love, struggling beer commercial actress, Harmony Lane [Michelle Monaghan] in and amongst all the potential murder suspects pertaining to the case. When they go to stakeout a client’s house so Perry can get incriminating pictures for his client, they find a body and from there the madness ensues.
The dialog alone is worth seeing this flick – it just doesn’t get any better. Val Kilmer as ‘Gay Perry’ is hysterical and Robert Downey is in top form. This movie is fun, crazy, weird, gross and… did I mention it’s funny?
4 out of 5.
Interesting tidbit, Director Shane Black wrote all the Lethal Weapon movies and to date, this is the only movie he’s directed… he did a great job, so I hope he’ll do more…
Add’l Info: Released: Sep 14, 2005 • Runtime: 102 minutes • Rated R for language, violence and sexuality/nudity • Photo credit: John Bramley, ©Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc. via allmoviephoto.com
