Film Review: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) B

Date Viewed: 6/19/06
Venue: DVD

Screenwriter Shane Black returns after a lengthy Hollywood absence with his directorial debut, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, a hilariously sarcastic detective story starring Robert Downey, Jr. and Val Kilmer. If you’ve ever seen Mr. Black’s other filmed works, like Lethal Weapon, The Last Kiss Goodnight, or The Last Boy Scout, then you already know he’s a master of witty, acerbic, fast-paced dialog. And oh my does Kiss Kiss Bang Bang deliver.

Downey, Jr. plays a small-time thug-turned-wannabe actor, who stumbles across an intricate murder scheme while schmoozing in LA. He enlists the reluctant help of Kilmer, a homosexual Hollywood private investigator. And of course, there has to be a girl, Michelle Monaghan playing the cute struggling-actress sister of one of the deceased.

Like any noir detective story, there’s a good deal of narration. But since this is Shane Black voice-over we’re talking about, it’s a very clever, self-aware, and self-referencing stream-of-consciousness. All eminating from Downey, Jr.’s mouth. This movie knows it’s a movie, knows you’re watching, and proceeds to address you, the audience, directly. Downey, Jr.’s delivery is perfect, but at times the self-referencing gets a bit old, like it’s showing off. “Look how clever we’re being,” it seems to say.

While Downey, Jr. is good; Kilmer is great, dispatching line after line with a steady, deadpan delivery. Monaghan holds her own, but she seems a little too young for her character’s age.

There’s some well put-together gunplay and chase scenes, as well, although I wonder why Shane Black has such a hard on for footchases on dark L.A. streets (or for Christmastime in L.A—see Lethal Weapon on both counts).

I quite enjoyed Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. It works as a detective story, it works as an action movie, and it works as a dark comedy. The dialog is rapid-fire and entertaining, even if the narration runs its mouth too much. Recommended.