Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) User Reviews

My kind of dark comedy.

[TheMovieMark · 7/10 · 22 November 2005]

The term "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang" was first coined in the 1960s by the Japanese press as a nickname for James Bond. Director Shane Black loved the term and chose it as the movie's title because, "it so clearly represented what this film is." And what exactly is this film? Good question. For starters, it's original. It's a nice change of pace from all of the sequels and remakes we've been inundated with recently. I needed this breath of fresh air after being blind-sided by the news that a remake of Robocop might be on its way.

It's also funny and action-packed. The pace comes at us almost as quickly as the clever dialogue, making it nearly impossible for the average viewer to get bored. You may be offended, you may not appreciate the dark humor, and you may not get the style, but I would predict the majority of you won't get bored. Will I refund your ticket money if you *do* get bored? No, absolutely not. Don't be silly. I'll just say, "Oh well, I guess you're just in the minority on this one!" What I like most about Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang is it's so hard to "genre-lize." See what I did there? Add that term to the Movie Mark Dictionary. When you can't "genre-lize" something then you can't easily force it into any one specific genre. Clever, huh? That's what makes Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang so fun. Is there action? Yes! After all, it's by the same guy who wrote the Lethal Weapon movies. But it's not an action movie.

Is there humor? Indeed. The laughs mostly come from the chemistry between Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr. and some of the crazy situations they find themselves in. This is my kind of dark humor. I love to be caught off guard by unexpected moments that make me laugh at things that might not be so funny if they were witnessed in the real world. But this isn't a comedy. The humor is never forced and doesn't have to resort to slapstick or flatulent puppies just to get cheap laughs. Sure, there's a scene that involves peeing on a corpse, but it has to be seen in its context to be appreciated.

If I were forced to affix a label to this then I suppose I'd say it's a darkly comedic murder mystery. It takes itself just seriously enough to keep you in suspense, but it's irreverent enough to simply be fun and entertaining. It works well enough as a farce without ever coming off as a pure parody.

My main complaint is that the story does get a little too confusing. I admit that I openly mocked other reviews that called the story "needlessly complex," but now that I have seen it I totally understand what these reviews are talking about. You'll want to pay careful attention or you'll get lost pretty quickly. I'd even suggest taking notes. If you're not careful you'll become so immersed with keeping up with the rapid-fire dialogue that you could lose focus on the plot details. It's not mind-blowing, but there are just so many characters and minutiae to keep up with that it's easy to lose track of what exactly is going on. If your friends call you "ol' goldfish attention span" then you could be in trouble.

I'm not going to lie to you and tell you that this movie is for everybody. The language gets pretty rough, there is strong sexual content, Val Kilmer is a detective who just happens to be gay and jokes are made at his expense, there's a decent amount of gunplay, and some people just might not appreciate the unconventionality on display.

But I loved the fact that this wasn't formulaic and that the look and style was different than the norm. Black admits to de-saturating the colors in post-production to give the film a crude, rough look. Perhaps some might like their movies a little more bright, but I thought it was quite effective at giving the film the pulp detective story vibe that Black was going for.

I wouldn't recommend this to my mother, so I won't pretend to know whether this fits *your* taste either. It all depends on how you view these kinds of things. Is it gratuitous or knowingly over-the-top? Clever or too clever for its own good? Cheesy or comfortable in its self-awareness? Ask yourself what it takes to offend your senses and let that be your guide.

Seriously where did this dark horse of a film come from?!

[rosaishere · 7/10 · 17 March 2006]

Without a doubt I thought that this was truly entertaining film. I only managed to catch it at my local cinema in a one off showing, but I really wasn't disappointed.

Me and my friend went in the film not truly understanding what to expect. Basically it cracks down to Robert Downey Jr. starting the film off as a burglar, after being shot at he accidentally runs into an acting audition. Breaking down with tears in the office, he accidentally gets the acting job and whisked off to Hollywood with hopes of playing a detective in an upcoming film.

Cue Gay Perry a.k.a Val Kilmer who is fantastic in this film with his dry wit and humour adding some hilarious scenes to this film. He plays a gay detective assigned to help train up Robert Downey Jr. The pair of them get sucked into a story starting with discovery of a corpse and building into deeper plot involving kidnapping and murder. The plot line is genuinely well crafted, and is explored in the perfect amount of depth. It is quite simply littered with many funny moments. Probably the favourite of mine being the running joke of the gay detective through the film, involving the 'faggot' gun. Shane Black directs this film superbly, keeping it alive with sharp wit.

The whole cast clicks together perfectly with Robert Downey Jr and Val Kilmer shining with good support coming from Michelle Monaghan. The film is accompanied by a very light hearted narration from Robert Downey Jr. which makes the film that even bit more engaging.

Overall, a quirky, very amusing film, with a superb cast, and with a run time of 99 minutes, you simply can't afford to miss it.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang... A solid 10/10

Slick Slick, Cool Cool

[Shingle · 8/10 · 11 October 2005]

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is like a wildly expensive hooker who looks like she's worth millions yet is actually worth a hell of a lot less, but when the ride is so damn good you just can't complain and you'll be telling all your friends. Put another way, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang has a certain something which the murder mystery genre tends to lack - a sense of fun. So much so, that I was crying with laughter!

After an incredibly stylish opening credits sequence, we discover that Harry Lockheart (Downey Jr.) is our narrator and also a criminal. After breaking into a toy store to get his nephew a Christmas present, the alarm brings the attention of the police. Harry escapes only to stumble into a film audition. He miraculously gets the part and is immediately whisked off to LA to receive detective lessons for his role from private detective 'Gay' Perry Van Shrike (Kilmer). While at a party, Harry meets struggling actress and childhood friend Harmony Faith Lane (Monaghan) and stupidly explains that he is a private detective. However, it's not long before Harmony soon asks for his help when her sister is found dead.

All the trademarks of a cheap pulp murder mystery novel are here - deaths (obviously), sex, trashy clubs, a beautiful blonde who ought to be advertising shampoo, wrapped up corpses, crazy clues and more twists than a pole dancer on cocaine. Can you believe it; the film even predictably has a bad guy fall through a glass table. Ooh, how exciting! What makes this stand out is the genius that is writer Shane Black, responsible for Lethal Weapon, The Last Boy Scout and The Long Kiss Goodnight. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang makes for Black's directorial debut and he must have a PhD in wit (a word a lot of critics will be using when describing this).

Robert Downey Jr. looks rough and downright cool as Harry Lockheart, the quintessential loser hero whom the young male audience will aspire to be. Harry is a good-hearted criminal (they do exist) who stumbles amidst the superficial gloss of Hollywood movie making and the murders taking place in LA. You can't help but root for him as he constantly tries to stay alive and make sense of the crazy scenario he's landed himself. This is a role that's likely to push Downey's career into overdrive, making him the next best thing... again... for the third time. Just like classic film noir, Harry also narrates the story, but what makes this all the more comical is that unlike the overused hard-boiled detective, who gives the audience a dark and moody voice-over, Harry can't even narrate properly!

That Val Kilmer makes for one tough homosexual, a welcome change of stereotype. Delivering a memorable performance as 'Gay' Perry, Kilmer is at his best when doing just about anything with Downey. Every one of their conversations raises a smile if not a laugh. With the right material, as seen here, he can handle humorous roles and this would certainly rank as one of his funniest. Michelle Monaghan is seductively charming as Harmony Faith Lane (which is what every parent ought to name their daughter). Coincidentally playing an up and coming actress, she'll definitely be catapulted into more work after this, since that's usually what happens to up and coming actresses who undress in a mainstream film. She manages to hold her own amongst the male leads mainly due to her character's nature to go out of her way for just about anything, thinking little about the consequences.

Not only does the film show us Black's love for the trashy detective novels and the murder mysteries of film noir, but his love and hate relationship with movies is also apparent. Taking the usual workings of what goes into the makings of a film, Black adds a new spin and manipulates these formulaic conventions such as narration, flashbacks, extras and credits. Can you say "post-modern" boys and girls? Movie buffs are likely to get a kick out of these 'self-aware' moments.

The film works as a showcase for Black to present his razor sharp wit during a number of absurdly thrilling and comic set pieces, each one clinging onto what is essentially a routine murder story as dense as the American government during a natural disaster. Unfortunately the fast pace leaves you with little time to piece all the clues together as the film skims over plot details. So much so that the lead characters have to do some obligatory explanations just to hook in anyone who is completely lost.

The brilliantly written characters and scenarios is what keeps one watching, but if a little more hot loving was given to the frequent twists and findings that occur then this could have pushed itself further as an eccentric little masterpiece. Still, where else will you come across the sight of Robert Downey Jr. hanging above a freeway by grabbing onto a corpse's hand sticking out of a coffin, which is somehow miraculously suspended in mid-air... only in a Shane Black film ladies and gentlemen!

Neat touches such as Perry's mobile phone ringtone, Downey making a sly remark about his past narcotics habit and a 'too-clever-for-its-own-damn-good' closing scene (which does look like it's been tacked on at the last minute) simply adds further icing on the already overly sweet cake.

The film treats you with its diverse absurdity and Shane Black's creativity of snowballing situations pumped with his remarkable talent for outlandish one-liners. Its fusing of a killer script and cool characters makes Kiss Kiss Bang Bang this year's Hot Ticket and one of those rare examples as to why I go to the cinema.

Shrewdly written, expertly delivered comic film-noir

[almonetts · 10/10 · 17 November 2005]

Directed and co-written by Shane Black; based on a novel, "Bodies Are Where You Find Them" written by Brett Halliday; and starring Robert Downey Jnr, Val Kilmer and Michelle Monaghan.

A terrific opening credit sequence easily sets up the audacity and chagrin of the film for an appreciative audience. In essence, these are the reasons why you need to see this movie: the razor sharp wit, shockingly fast-paced and hysterical dialogue, pulp-fiction-esquire vibe, its pure cheesiness and the cynicism of a beat up old paperback detective novel.

Got you yet? Alright, maybe an explanation of the seemingly simple plot is warranted. It begins with a ridiculously funny set up resulting in Downey's character being paired up with Kilmer to observe the latter in his job as a private detective. They hook up with a down-on-her luck actress who brings a case for the sleuths. This synopsis constitutes gross misrepresentation on my part as things get remarkably complex. How so? Well, even the lead the character (who also is purposefully pathetic as narrator) takes time out within the movie to remember where he is in telling the story. There are even snippets of dialogue where the characters attempt to fill in the gaps or actually remind themselves of what has happened thus far in the movie.

Downey, Kilmer and Monaghan are all caricatures drawn from popular references of literature, movies and art. All however, are larger than life, exhibit great chemistry and for a movie buff, it is heaven to witness the self referential exercises and hear the narrator shred every narrating convention applicable. Downey's performance is remarkable (neurotic, comic, vulnerable and charming). I have never seen Kilmer in such a well-defined, uproarious piece of work. Monaghan is also integral to the trio and shines exuding a brash, fighting and sexy appeal. She brought back fond memories of early Kathleen Turner and Rene Russo. The fact that her look screams Renee Zellweger, is not a bad thing either.

Black became famous in the 1980s for writing the hit buddy movies: Lethal Weapon, The Last Boy Scout and The Long Kiss Goodnight. As a first time director, he does well keeping the frenetic pace and allowing the audience to catch up only to get lost time and time again. The style is so disarmingly effective, that at times I shook my head in confusion or found my hands against my mouth, agape in shock. I also think that in creating such a brilliant script that Black may have blacklisted himself in Hollywood for mirroring its supposed fame and glamor and exposing its not too pretty side. His one-liners and connected sub-plots are not typical and Kilmer and Downey make magic with their banter and clinical delivery.

All the ingredients of a pulp-noir novella can be found, even employing a structure of chapter-type headings within the movie. Parallel story lines unfold and given plot assumptions are turned over, always with achingly funny results. Even the clichés are clever e.g. a tough guy predictably crashes through a glass table, or body after body turns up, to haunt the characters.

I strongly recommend the movie, given the talent of Downey and Kilmer. Downey should be honored with a Lead Actor Oscar nomination; while Kilmer deserves a Supporting Actor nod. It thrilled me to see them both in their element, as I was on the verge of disavowing them as marquee/box-office draws. The screenplay should also attract Oscar consideration.

One of the year's best films and one of those rare movies where you'll consistently find something new to laugh at, when viewed each of a dozen times.

Way better than I expected. Hip and self-aware but tons of fun!

[Camera-Obscura · 30 September 2006]

I didn't expect much from this at all, but it turned out pretty good. Think of a Raymond Chandler murder mystery, updated to a sort of modern and enormously... self-aware buddy film-noir. Yes, a buddy-movie, film-noir, murder mystery, crime-thriller, all rolled into one hip modern self-referential update, packed with amusing references to all the clichés of the genres depicted. Before you can even think about the next cliché in the film, it grabs it, makes a mockery of it and proceeds at break-neck pace.

Petty thief Harry Lockhardt (Downey) is a lovable loser who accidentally winds up in the movie business, auditioning for the part of a private detective. Val Kilmer plays the real private eye, Perry Shrike (half the fun is picking the right name!) who has to learn him the trades of the business, but soon they both wind up in a murder mystery with so many twists and turns (and bodies), it'll make your head spin.

Downey and Kilmer seem to have the time of their lives, but not to the viewer's expense. Perhaps a bit too clever for it's own good with so many "clever" plot turns, that I was lost in the end, but perhaps I'm not as clever as I wish to. And I must say, Michelle Monaghan! Wow! She really gave one sexy performance! It derails a bit in the end and goes so wildly over the top with shaggy-dog jokes, ridiculously stupid bad guys and buddy-clichés, it makes Austin Powers look like a straight-faced classic. But as a whole very entertaining, with snappy dialogue, clever writing, and enjoyable performances. Just lots of fun.

Camera Obscura --- 8/10

Extremely funny film noir spoof

[renglish1964 · 10/10 · 21 September 2005]

I saw this movie at the 2005 Toronto Film Festival and expected it to be the typical film noir genre. This seemed to be the case for the first couple of minutes of narrative monologue before the jokes started coming fast and furious. This turned out to be a highly entertaining comedy/buddy film couched in a tongue in cheek film noir setting. The dialogue was witty and the chemistry between Robert Downey Jr and Val Kilmour was great. Some of the jokes went by so fast that I'll have to see this movie again to see what I missed as I was still laughing at the previous one. The director spoke before the movie and commented on how the producers were nervous about the risky choice of actors. This was a reference to Robert Downey Jr.'s past addiction problems, but this film proved that he was worth the risk. I saw 10 films at this year's film festival and this one was my favorite.

"I'm retired. I invented dice. What do you do?"

[Flagrant-Baronessa · 7/10 · 3 August 2006]

A lucky mistake shifts out-of-luck criminal Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr) from the gritty streets to glossy showbiz in L.A, landing him a part in an upcoming film. Another mistake then shifts him from actor to private detective, and this is where Val Kilmer comes in and things start to go wrong, more wrong and unbelievably wrong until they've snowballed into an enjoyable detective mess -- all to impress failed actress Harmony (Next big thing: Michelle Monaghan).

Shane Black's directorial debut 'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang' is a comic film noir. Even in the dazzling opening credits using a montage of contrasts of red, black and white, it is evident that this is no run-of-the-mill crime story, but a viciously entertaining ride from scene 01. What makes it so special is that it mixes equal doses of humour and crime like a $15,000,000 blender, pouring out a balanced end product and glazing it with a clever narrative coating by Robert Downey Jr. Black also sprinkles some rapid-fire dialogue onto his product, which is facilitated by the comedic chemistry between Downey and Kilmer. Some of the lines, gags and images are truly laugh-out-loud worthy. Everything else is nice, but forgettable.

Its only problem, as far as I can see it, is its paper-thin plot. It does not seem believable; it is complex, dizzying and not nearly as involving as it would like to be. So back to formula on that one, and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang would be a near-perfect comedy-thriller.

7.5/10

You're gonna love this...

[KyleReese · 9/10 · 13 August 2005]

KKBB was shown at the Fantasy Filmfest in Germany. This festival for horror, sci-fi and thrillers is touring Germany in several big cities. KKBB was the opening movie in Cologne and it got a feverish applause after wards.

I can only say that this movie is one of the biggest surprises in the Action/Thriller/Comedy-Genre in the last years. If you liked Black's scripts for Last Boy Scout, Long Kiss Goodnight, Lethal Weapon etc. for their tongue in cheek humor, wicked dialogues and sick ideas, you're gonna love this movie.

The cast delivers and gets the movie going. I don't want to spoil it for you, but Black still has some very cool one-liners and dialogue. Downey Jr is really amazing in this role as your typical looser-criminal kind of guy.

The film struggles a bit at the end, but it was so much fun to watch nonetheless. The Teaser Trailer came out today, so you might want to watch that. Luckily doesn't already show you the best parts.

I really hope that this movie attracts a big audience, because Black has definitely written and directed a highly entertaining movie, showing you Hollywood behind the scenes. Watch this movie!

Difficult to follow thriller, full of Black humour.

[BA_Harrison · 6/10 · 18 April 2006]

Shane Black is a fine writer and his screenplays for Lethal Weapon, The Last Boy Scout, and The Long Kiss Goodnight bristled with witty dialogue, great characters and deftly handled action scenes. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, his directorial debut, also shares these attributes, but suffers from a convoluted plot and a script so overloaded with witticisms and clever asides that the viewer soon feels overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of the experience.

Robert Downey Jr. plays a low-life criminal who inadvertently becomes a potential movie star whilst escaping from a heist gone wrong (on the run, he stumbles into an audition and gets the part). However, things take a turn for the worse when he goes undercover as a private-eye (in order to gain first hand experience necessary for the role) and witnesses a murder...

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is an ambitious debut — several complex plot threads intertwine and an ingenious narrative links scenes - but despite his best efforts, Black loses control of affairs and the film spirals out of control. Despite my best efforts at keeping up, I just couldn't follow the storyline. It doesn't help matters that half of the lines are spoken in a chaotic scattershot manner and the other half are mumbled, making staying abreast of the story nigh on impossible at times. There are probably many moments of pure genius in Shane Black's script - it's a shame that I missed a lot of them.

The parts of the film that I did manage to follow and understand are actually very good. Kilmer and Downey Jr. work well together and share some incredibly funny scenes, there are some genuine 'classic' moments (Downey pissing on the corpse in the shower is hilarious) and the manner in which the story unfolds is, at times, inspired. If Black hadn't been trying so damn hard to be so clever with his words and had concentrated more on telling the story, this may have been a real gem.

Although the film closes with all loose ends neatly tied up, I suffered the majority of the running time baffled by proceedings and struggled to keep up with the sharp prose that flows thick and fast from the word go.

Maybe this is one of those films that would benefit from an immediate second viewing in order to catch all the bits I missed first time round.

Calling Johnny Gossamer to action

[jotix100 · 10/10 · 2 December 2005]

The immensely likable novel "Bodies are where you find them", written by Brett Halliday, has been adapted for the screen by Shane Black and the result is one of the funniest movies playing around. "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" boasts an amazing dialog with some of the wittiest lines of any film in recent memory.

The film pays a tremendous bonus to fans of the genre, which combines a detective story technique with some amusement and irony thrown in. The result is a fun time at the movies. Mr. Halliday pays tribute to those forgotten cheap pulp fiction novels that were so popular at one time in this country.

The director has to be congratulated for combining the talents of two actors that pay off in unexpected ways. Robert Downey Jr., one of the best film actors, is paired in this movie with Val Kilmer, who tends to play heavy roles, but has never been seen as he is shown in the movie. Both these men compliment one another in ways we didn't expect. The chemistry between them seems to indicate these two actors had a lot of fun while making the film, as it shows in the way they play against one another.

Lovely Michelle Monaghan is seen as Harmony, a beautiful young hopeful working her way up in Hollywood. Also in the cast Corbin Bernsen, who is seen as Harlan Dexter. Larry Miller has a few brief moments in the picture.

"Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" is a witty and intelligent film. Thanks to its director, Shane Black, it's a film to be treasured.

A funny and complex film that doesn't take itself too seriously

[jtindahouse · 7/10 · 27 October 2022]

Shane Black's films seem to have a very unique sense of humour about them. They don't always work for me but they often contain either very clever humour that makes you smile inwardly, or there will always be a couple of moments of genuine laugh out loud humour along the way. 'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang' is probably the funniest thing I've seen from him.

The film is very self-aware. It is not afraid to break the fourth wall with its narration. I'm not always the biggest fan of narration but it works reasonably well here. In particular because the story is pretty darn complex, so it is good to have a guiding voice that can clear the odd thing up.

The film is boosted by a great cast. Robert Down Jr. And Val Kilmer were perfectly suited for their roles. Kilmer in his prime was such a treat to watch. I had a good time with this one. 7/10.

Great movie with tons of funny scenes. I was rolling in my seat with laughter!

[MadameWordsmith · 10/10 · 9 November 2005]

I saw a special screening of the movie yesterday and I thought it was going to be so boring, but I was entirely wrong! It was very funny and well written. It was a refreshing take on screenplays and acting and its great to see Robert Downey Jr. back again. Val Kilmer's role as Gay Perry was also spectacular. Michelle Monaghan looks like she can be Liv Tyler's little sister but with more substance (sorry Liv Tyler fans) I loved the sarcasm and humorous one-liners used throughout the movie. The constant reference to real life actors and movies gave it an almost "real life" feel. I recommend this movie for a good laugh and great narration by Downey, Jr.

Not entirely successful, but nevertheless an interesting film

[The_Void · 7/10 · 7 February 2006]

I'm not sure whether or not I like this film. On the one hand, I enjoyed watching it and I respect the fact that it's tried to be a little different; but on the other hand, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang reminds me too much of the guy at the buffet who fills his plate and doesn't end up eating it all. The film is a comedy, a thriller, a murder mystery, an action flick; a character study and a crime film, all rolled into one. It would be hard for any film to take this cocktail and spin it into a coherent piece, but to it's credit; Kiss Kiss Bang Bang almost succeeds; but cracks begin to show where the story is concerned, as the film clearly makes the conglomeration of genres it's central point, and it's too easy to get confused. The film is based on a collection of stories by Brett Halliday, and it follows a petty thief who stumbles into the top flight of Hollywood by chance, and soon finds himself part of a murder investigation after witnessing a car speeding into a lake. The investigation includes a gay detective named 'Gay Perry', and his former childhood sweetheart, Harmony.

The cast is one of the film's main assets. Director Shane Black is always happy to show off his main star, who has finally made his way back into 'A' class movies after some...errr...time out. Downey is a talented actor, and it's through him that the film gains most of its vitality. He is joined by Val Kilmer, who is a lot better than I thought he would be in the role of the gay detective. Michelle Monaghan rounds off the cast, and holds her own against the two bigger name male leads. Shane Black is most famous for his action films, including credits for the Lethal Weapon series and Arnie vehicle; The Last Action Hero, but like the film's main lead; Black has had some time off recently, and this film marks his comeback. Some people were relieved to see the Predator co-star back in action...I cant say I share the sentiment, but all in all; I'm glad that he has finally made his directorial debut with this film. On the whole, this will appeal to people who like their films to be quirky and offbeat. The mock-noir style bodes well with Downey's witty performance, and the film is constantly entertaining; even if it doesn't always hit the mark dead on.

Not nearly as good as it thinks it is

[zakalwefrombetfair · 5/10 · 17 November 2005]

A movie that constantly and deliberately reminds you that you are watching a movie, rather than escaping into it, is rather pretentious and a little tedious in my opinion.

The story was unnecessarily complex as the style of narration deliberately hindered understanding in an effort to be "cool and funny", but just came off as irritating. The few, admittedly good, jokes were out of place in the context of the story therefore lacking any additional punch - exactly what Lethal Weapon and his other movies managed so well.

Not a bad movie, but not nearly as good as it thinks it is.

I suspect its one of those films that a certain type of person pretends to like more than they really do (you know who you are :) ). I was very disappointed.

Underrated dark comedy from a master.

[rossperry-18019 · 14 October 2018]

Shane Black is a good writer. Judging by Kiss Kiss Bang bang he is also a fantastic director. This dark comedy is an incredibly underrated comedy and showcases the powerhouse talent of Val Kilmer, Robert Downey Jr. and Shane Black. Laden with one liners and throwaway jokes Kiss Kiss Bang bang should be re watched to get everything in, for only one viewing is not enough. Perhaps this is the reason the film underperformed at the box office. If you are a fan of Robert Downey Jr. you owe it to yourself to watch this film.

Quick witted and fast paced - Not at all what I expected

[Squishy_Hippo · 9/10 · 15 August 2005]

I was lucky enough to see a preview of Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang at a 'mystery' film showing at the Rivoli Cinemas in Melbourne recently.

I really don't know what I was expecting, but I wasn't expecting to enjoy the film as throughly as I did.

The film centers around Harry (Robert Downey Jnr) a petty thief who while escapes into an audition for a new detective movie. After an amusing audition, he's whisked of the bright lights and parties of LA.

I won't go too much into the story because to give any of it away would take away from the unpredictable nature of the film. Worth seeing just for Val Kilmer's Gay Perry!

Riffs on hard-boiled detective conventions but conforms to them almost as much; still, it's sly satire with a subversive streak.

[Pjtaylor-96-138044 · 8/10 · 13 May 2018]

Shane Black's directorial debut, 'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)', is a neo-noir thriller that riffs on hard-boiled detective genre conventions but also conforms to them almost as much as it subverts them. It's well-done comedy, several laugh-out-loud moments punctuate a consistently well-written screenplay, but it can feel a little cynical, at times, and the overly complex plot is occasionally difficult to follow. The way the feature plays around with the fourth wall can get a little 'in your face' in the first forty minutes, too. However, this is still an energetic and entertaining feature that brings Black back to his former self, sitting side-by-side with 'Lethal Weapon (1987)' as an engagingly smart action-comedy. It's sly satire with a subversive streak. 8/10

Los Angeles, Land Without Police

[claudio_carvalho · 7/10 · 8 July 2006]

In LA, while escaping from the police after an unsuccessful robbery, the small time thief Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.) is accidentally submitted to an audition for a role of detective in a movie, and invited to a party. He meets the homosexual private eye Gay Perry (Val Kilmer), who suggests him to participate of an investigation to develop his character. He also meets the gorgeous aspirant actress Harmony Faith Lane (Michelle Monaghan), and finds that she was a friend of his childhood for whom he had a crush. Harry and Perry get involved in an intricate murder case with many leads. With the support of Harmony, they find the sordid truth of the case.

"Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" is a funny, but also violent, action movie with an original screenplay, where the lead character is actually the narrator of the events. Robert Downey Jr. is excellent in the role of the loser Harry Lockhart and shows a great chemistry with the delicious Michelle Monaghan, and also with his gay partner Val Kilmer. The story in a certain moment becomes very confused with many subplots, but in the end all of them are satisfactorily resolved. The usually efficient police, at least in American movies, apparently vanished in Los Angeles, since there are countless car chases and shootings without any police action. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Beijos e Tiros" ("Kisses and Shots")

Oozing with style and fabulous performances from Downey Jr. and Kilmer

[DonFishies · 9/10 · 14 June 2006]

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang was a movie I had heard about and seen trailers at the end of last year. I heard great things, and became even more intrigued when I heard it was written and directed by Shane Black, who created two characters who helped influence my love for film (those two obviously being Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh). But unfortunately, the film came out nowhere near me, and my hopes of seeing the film were basically sunk until the DVD came out. I waited in intense anticipation, and when it finally did come out, I did not hesitate to pick it up.

The film is about Harry Lockhart's (Robert Downey Jr.) accidental trip to L.A. Harry is a thief who manages to get away from the police only to stumble into an acting audition and wooing the studio executives. He gets the part, and is flown to L.A. where he meets "Gay" Perry (Val Kilmer), a private detective hired to help train Harry for his eventual part. On their first training session, they witness the dumping of a body, and things only become complicated as both characters become mixed up in the dumping. Adding to things is Harmony (Michelle Monaghan), Harry's old high school crush who only make things even more complicated for Harry. The film is told in chapters with narration from Downey Jr., frequently lapsing into flashback, freezeframing and backtracking moments.

Without ruining much more of the plot, Black has created a fine pseudo-take on the "buddy cop" genre. His screenplay is littered with thrilling moments and sequences of absolute dark hilarity. While not being a conventional buddy cop film, it has the familiar tired feelings, but feels more original than other entries in the genre. Downey Jr. and Kilmer are absolutely perfect in their roles, and have electrifying chemistry on the screen. Black's written words become so much stronger as the film goes on and these two actors play them out with the single best actor partnering of last year. Both perform excellently, and bring a sense of realism to their roles. Their charisma and class allows Black's script to truly shine. Monaghan, while obviously trying harder than the other two, has nowhere near the same amount of luck as they do in their performances. She comes off a tad bit weak in comparison, but still fares well in her role. The supporting cast, including the likes of Corbin Bernsen, Larry Miller and Shannon Sossamon are all great in their tiny roles as well.

While being in the "buddy cop" genre, the film does have a lot of film noir and pulp fiction added in, both for comedic and dramatic effect. The colour palette for the film is stunning, as are the costumes. If it was not for all of the hilarious moments in the film, this could have made for a fine hard-boiled detective thriller. It has the gritty makings for one, and has plenty of well choreographed sequences to boot. Much of Harry's satiric narration even feels as if it was taken right out of a pulp novel. The film takes from the old school noir elements, adding in elements of old detective stories and films, and adds its own twist to them in order to make them feel more contemporary. While the film is nowhere near as stylishly versed as Rodriguez, Tarantino and Miller's Sin City, it still breathes the same air. The seamless blend makes the film stronger, and much more memorable than others in the genre.

The film is obviously not perfect though. The shortcomings in Monaghan's character are coupled in by a few questionably unrealistic and silly moments in the screenplay. Some may even leave the audience slightly baffled for a few moments. While the lack of realism may work for the most part in the film's favour, the silly moments really take away from it. There are a few subplots that could have been done without, yet they work well in the final product.

My one question that still baffles me about the film is why Warner did not bother releasing it to a wider audience. It's a great little mainstream feeling indie film, oozing with style and fantastic performances from Downey Jr. and Kilmer. A definite candidate for most underrated film of 2005.

9/10.

Superb acting, great story, fantastic chemistry

[Oberrated · 7/10 · 20 October 2016]

'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang' was definitely a fun one to view. The team of RDJ, Val, and Michelle have a chemistry that works very well on screen and the story develops well as the run time continues, creating an ever changing engagement to the plot from the audiences' perspective... Easily, Robert Downey Jr. is a fan favorite within the film. Viewing this movie for the first time while watching many other more recently released RDJ movies, it is clear to see how fantastic of an actor he is and how compelling he is as he demands attention with every word or action he projects. On the flip-side of things, he as the narrator made me laugh on multiple occasions... Comparing 'The Nice Guys' to 'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang', this film easily beats 'The Nice Guys' out in my book where I simply found this far more entertaining than it.

A very comedic and compelling film for your viewing pleasure. Fun from start to finish yet very clever and intelligent as well.

--Oberrated--

"Kiss" this funny film

[rparham · 8/10 · 26 October 2006]

In the genre of comedies with a film noir bent there are, well, there is really only one, and that is Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang. Oh sure, there have been comedies that used the film noir milieu as their setting, but really no film has attempted to be both a comedy and a noir thriller at the same time. Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang is definitely that, and it does a generally good job of working in both universes, although it is certainly a more effective comedy than a noir, but it gives the latter a good shot.

Harry (Robert Downey, Jr.) is a crook ripping off a department store in New York City (trying to steal a present for his daughter, no less) when a twist of fate causes the alarm to sound and Harry runs for it, happening upon an audition for a film featuring a police detective. The producer (Larry Miller) immediately thinks Harry is method acting and packs him on a plane for L.A. There, at a party, Harry meets "Gay" Perry (Val Kilmer) a real private detective who is a friend of the producer who will give Harry "Detective Lessons." Oh, and he's gay, hence the name. At the same party, Harry runs into a girl who turns out to be his high school unrequited love, Harmony (Michelle Monaghan), whom he tries, and stumbles, to be build a renewed relationship with. When Perry and Harry go out on a surveillance job, as part of Harry's detective classes, they end up with a dead body and men chasing them. The situation becomes even more complicated, with the apparent suicide of Harmony's younger sister and connections to a rich former actor (Corbin Bernsen). What appeared to be just a routine job becomes a complicated web of lies, deceit and bodies.

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang was written and directed by Shane Black, the writer of the original Lethal Weapon, The Last Boy Scout and The Long Kiss Goodnight, and anyone familiar with his work from those films will instantly recognize his style here. Black is one of a select few (principally only Kevin Smith otherwise) who can write absolutely hilarious dialogue that is interlaced with copious profanity and not have it seem excessive. His gift for witty repartee is impressive, and a great many scenes in Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang are absolutely roll on the floor, bust a gut funny as Harry and Perry verbally jab at each other (A good example: Perry: "Do you know what you will find if you look up the word idiot in the dictionary?" Harry: "A picture of me?" Perry: "No, the definition of idiot, which is what you are!"). Most of this film rides on the collaboration of these two characters, and they both pull off their scenes beautifully.

At the same time, Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang is a film noir, complete with voice over narration, and an appropriately twisty plot. These elements of the film are played with a certain amount of levity and self-awareness, especially the narration, which Downey delivers with a wink and a nod to the audience. It plays more like a screenwriters commentary on a narrative, and while it adds to the appropriate feel of a noir, it does so with a unique bent on it. The plot is indeed full of twists and turns, and even when it comes together at the end, we get a sense that everything has been resolved without really knowing every little detail. The light tone, and the strong identification with the characters defuses whatever questions there are left at the end. This is a film that is driven by it's energy and it's dialogue, not its plot.

Downey, Kilmer and Monaghan are all excellent in their roles. Downey's performance is so strong that you can't help but forget his real world troubles and be pulled in by what a terrific performer he is. Kilmer is also great in one of his better performances in a while. He really sells Perry as a hard nosed detective who is more concerned with not getting his nose too far into where it doesn't belong who eventually has to realize that he needs to do the right thing. Monaghan is also effective in her role, playing a somewhat clichéd role in a non-cliché manner. She is a light, breezy comedienne and her scenes with Downey sparkle with chemistry (something missing from countless other film romances these days).

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang is no masterpiece, nor does it intend to be. It's an enjoyable, entertaining mix of two genres that is fun to watch and absolutely hilarious at times. There are few comedies out this year better than this one, and it is worth a spin.

Never fully grabbed my attention

[danielmanson · 6/10 · 31 January 2021]

I'll be honest, I think 6 is a little generous but I'll go with it. Seeing that this film has overwhelmingly good success in the reviews I thought I'd give it a go and as the title suggests, it just never fished me in.

I found the film to be a bit pretentious and very hard to follow and I think this is why I found it difficult to be hooked into the plot. The characters I never truly understood either as there was little depth on them at all. I found the ending to be underwhelming as well. There wasn't any huge twist or anything of that nature so it just kind of falls flat. I personally didn't find it funny, but a lot of reviews state otherwise so since comedy is subjective I maybe wrong on that front, but I felt the "jokes" just never really hit and this could be because I'm spending most my time wondering what the hell is going on.

Overall I definitely expected better. It's not awful it's definitely watchable, but I think this could have been much better if it was just simplified. It didn't need to be as confusing and hard to follow as it was. 6/10 from me personally.

I haven't laughed this much in ages...

[andyajoflaherty · 9/10 · 31 October 2023]

Harry Lockheart (Robert Downey Jr) is a small time thief and a big time loser with an even bigger mouth, and after a small toy store heist gone wrong finds himself running from the cops. To escape he hides within an acting audition, and they think he's doing some sort of bizarre method acting, so hire him for the role. The role in question requires him to play a detective, so the producers pair him up with Perry van Shrike (Val Kilmer), a real private detective, to get some experience. As you can probably imagine, it quickly goes south in the most hilarious way possible.

This film is great. Robert Downey Jr steals the show with his incredible dialogue and wit, that is delivered with razor precision... it's no wonder he was hired as Iron Man on the back of this. Val Kilmer is also awesome as Perry, and the 2 of them have such a great chemistry its a shame they didn't pair up more often. The plot is engaging, the action entertaining and I found myself laughing out loud fairly often... which is rare for me with more modern films. I thoroughly enjoyed this film and I highly recommend it!

The Big Sleep Meets My Favorite Brunette

[cherold · 7/10 · 31 December 2015]

Director Shane Black seems to have decided it was possible to make a film noir movie that is also a *parody* of film noir films, and he turns out to have been right. Divided into chapters titled after Raymond Chandler novels, the film follows petty criminal turned aspiring actor Downey as he gets involved with a witty detective (excellently played by Kilmer) and a sexy actress (Monaghan).

Downey is a bit of a sad sack into the movie, clueless and rash, and while his performance is quite different, it reminded me a bit of Bob Hope film noir take-offs. The movie often mocks film conventions, most notably with Downey's sloppy narration, and while it is sometimes overly gimmicky, I generally thought it worked.

Unlike those old Hope movies, KKBB takes its noir seriously. The plot is complex and moves fast but actually holds up much better than Chandler's often incomprehensible stories, and the action and suspense are very well done, both exciting and funny. The film takes the noir conventions it likes but tosses the ones that seem archaic; in a 40s movie Monaghan would have been a mysterious femme fatale, but here she's more an action- hero version of Nancy Drew.

I'm kind of torn between giving this movie a 7 and an 8. I really like it, but somehow I never quite *loved* it, perhaps because the gimmicky stuff distances you from the visceral stuff. But it's really enjoyable and I highly recommend it.

Tries way to hard and fails badly

[natryles · 1/10 · 7 April 2012]

I found this movie difficult to watch. It just feels like its trying way too hard to be hip and edgy. Its not gripping, you don't care what happens to the characters, its not funny, and because it so dull you find yourself giving up on following the story and then wondering what the hell is going on. Its a shame because I really wanted to enjoy this film, the reviews were good and I had reasonably high hopes. However I felt really let down by the obviousness of it all. Sure I really enjoyed watching Michelle Monaghan, she is gorgeous, but her character is awful. She plays a slut, and I guess its somehow suppose to be funny that she has slept with everyone under the sun, but really, again its cheap and obvious. I love Robert Downey Jnr, he is great, I love him in NBK and Iron Man, and his acting in this is pretty good I guess, but you just don't care about his character, he is annoying and unfunny and again everything seems obvious and trying to be wacky and funny, but its not. Im not that hard to please, I enjoy watching films, a lot, I have a large collection, but this movie is being removed from my shelf and is now making its way to the second hand movie shop!