Directed by:
Shane BlackScreenplay:
Shane BlackCinematography:
Michael BarrettComposer:
John OttmanCast:
Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan, Corbin Bernsen, Dash Mihok, Larry Miller, Rockmond Dunbar, Shannyn Sossamon, Angela Lindvall, Ariel Winter (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
In Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, a breezy take on writer-director Shane Black's trademark buddy action/comedy oeuvre, a petty thief posing as an actor (Robert Downey Jr.) is brought to Los Angeles for an unlikely movie audition, but soon finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation, along with his high school dream girl (Michelle Monaghan) and a detective (Val Kilmer) who has been training him for his upcoming role. (Home Box Office)
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Reviews (10)
A thoroughly likeable film with a not less likeable cast, an excellent script, funny one-liners, an uplifting view and a massive “but”. Despite all that concentrated positivity, I didn’t have much fun with Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Buddy movies never satisfy me much (the sub-genre gets on my nerves for some reason, in fact), so, even though KKBB is one of the best of the lot, it doesn’t get more than a slight thumbs up out of me.
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Great genre crossover. Here noir is parodied while at the same time receiving a proper tribute, while buddy movies, a practically dead genre, get a substantial injection for several years to come. Above all, the central duo of "Perry the Gay Guy and Harry the New Yorker" manage quite convincingly to confirm and overturn the tough-guy gimmicks on their head, and surprisingly get under your skin right from the opening minutes.
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Insights gleaned from reading trash mystery novels and watching B crime dramas in a heavyweight mix of apt verbal shootouts and indiscriminate slaps at the stars of today from Dream Factory. Shane Black earns full marks in his main discipline, but not everyone is given the ability to give more than a grey routine shape to a brilliant script from behind the camera. It would take either old scoutmaster T. Scott or the younger Joe Carnahan. That’s unfortunate and it doesn't deserve 4 stars the first time, and sadly, it also doesn't entice a second watch.
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Robert Downey Jr. shows that he's quite suited for neurotic characters, and together with Val Kilmer, who is still in quite good form here, they enjoy this crazy ride where you sometimes feel like the story isn't actually that important, even though it still progresses, things keep happening, and there are constantly twists and turns. Entertaining, eccentric, and yet clever.
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The film is actually just another slightly above-average action-crime-comedy that is not nearly as original and cool as it tries to be from the opening seconds, and is only kept significantly afloat by great performances and that slightly offbeat take on today's Hollywood. Downey in particular is classically excellent and rules in every scene, but Michelle Monaghan with her big cleavage also has something going for her. Overall, the unconventional approach to the traditional plot and the ubiquitous attempt at humorous interludes, which are usually successful, are fine, but I still couldn't shake the feeling that this is no great piece of screenwriting as far as individual scenes are concerned. But that doesn't take away from the fact that I had a great time, that those 100 minutes flew by quickly and that I don't regret a single moment I sacrificed for this film.
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