Gay Perry: If you looked up idiot in the dictionary, do you know what you would find?
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang is a great movie from Shane Black - the creator of Lethal Weapon. The film is his directorial debut and features great performances from Robert Downey, Jr. and Val Kilmer.
Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey, Jr.) is a small time crook. He and his partner have broken into a toy shop. He’s on the cell phone with his nephew (I think) trying to figure out which toy he’s supposed to “acquire” for him. A passing truck causes the wires keeping the alarm from sounding to drop off and the burglar alarm starts to wail. Lockhart and his partner attempt to flee down the alley but are stopped by a gun wielding resident of the apartments above. She shoots his partner but Lockhart gets away.
He runs into an audition for a new movie being run by agent Dabney Shaw (Larry Miller). Lockhart plays along so that the pursuing cops won’t catch him. However, the script he has to read from is about a guy who got his partner killed in a botched robbery so he gives an emotional performance - emotional enough that he gets the part and is flown to Hollywood. He’s put under the tutelage of a real private detective, “Gay” Perry (Val Kilmer) who yes is gay.
Hanging out with a corpse over Long Beach
Harry gets involved in one of Perry’s cases and also takes on a case of his own. I’m not going to tell you anymore (sticks out tongue). Actually it’s best to come into the film not knowing too much. I will say that we encounter Harmony (Michelle Monaghan), Harlan Dexter (Corbin Bernsen), and a actor from a Robocop-like TV show that has kept his costume after the show has been cancelled and breaks into people’s houses wearing it. That’s Hollywood for ya.
Both Robert Downey, Jr. and Val Kilmer are excellent. I greatly enjoyed the film. It reminded me of a black noir comedy. It basically is a buddy comedy film but it’s wrapped in a noir package - including references to a Mickey Spillane type detective novel following the adventures of Johnny Gossamer.
It has as many twists and turns as those novels and hence my reluctance to give you any more of the plot description. It also has some laugh out loud moments. One of my biggest laughs was the “Native American Joe Pesci.” It has some other creative use of noir elements such as Harry acting as narrator of the film, but a somewhat forgetful one.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is presented in anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) and enhanced for 16x9 televisions. Special features include a commentary by Val Kilmer, Robert Downey, Jr. and director Shane Black. It’s a little on the jokey side, Kilmer begins by claiming to be Robert Downey, Jr. The theatrical trailer is also included.
Harry and Gay Perry share a phone call
I thought Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was a wonderful film and hope that Shane Black keeps them up. I don’t think this movie found its audience in theaters and hope it’s discovered on DVD.
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang is now available at Amazon and AmazonUK . Visit the DVD’s database for more information.
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