“Kiss Kiss Bang Bang”
“Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” is a fun movie, that’s what it’s trying to be and that’s what it achieves. It’s interesting enough plot-wise; New York petty thief Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.) one second escapes arrest by walking into an audition. The next second he is an actor in LA in one of those LA parties with the camera pointing up at him from inside a pool. So it’s one of those movies. Then there is Gay Perry, the once again wonderful Val Kilmer as a gay private investigator who also works on film sets. Soon Gay Perry and Harry are caught up in some sort of murder mystery. So it’s a noirish little thing. And Corbin Bernsen is involved as Hollywood Producer Harlan Dexter.
But I forgot to mention that it’s not quite serious. See in a noir there is always a narrator, and here Harry is the narrator, but he also breaks the fourth wall, not just addressing the audience but addressing them as an audience of a film, and himself as the narrator. He speculates on audiences in the Midwest being offended by language and subject matter and tells east coast viewers not to yell at the screen. He also apologizes for having forgotten to explain things that he must then go back and explain. It’s a device that could have been ridiculously hokey, but here by being so sure of itself, it works.
The mystery itself is not very important, it’s just a reason to get there and the ride is what’s worth it. Of course there is a girl, Harmony Faith Lane, ably portrayed by Michelle Monaghan, and several interesting characters and it is all very well done. It looks like noir in LA, lots of colors and palm trees. In fact, when it’s at its best, it’s hilarious. Several unexpected events will have you rolling, and I won’t spoil them, because like I said, this is a fun movie, and a cool one. In fact, I’m having trouble reviewing this movie at length; it’s fun, unexpected, and light, what else must you know to give it a try?
Well, it’s also interesting to note that it is the directing debut of infamous 80’s screenwriter Shane Black who burst onto the scene with fun mainstream successes like “Lethal Weapon” and “The Last Boy Scout” before bursting off it with “Lethal Weapon 4” (in between he wrote big time flops “Last Action Hero,” and “Long Kiss Goodnight”). So Black writes it as a career mainstream screenwriter who is having a lot of fun making light of marketing conventions in Hollywood while placing the whole thing in the noir world, the riff able and always re-arrange able blues of filmmaking. Here’s looking forward to his next one, let’s hope it’s this entertaining and enjoyable.
Story: A
Comic-Noir that places a petty thief into an actor involved in a murder mystery. Constant surprises and wink/nods to the audience.
Acting: B
Downey Jr. and Kilmer are great, and I love that ham Corbin Bernsen.
Visuals: B
Nice colors, appropriate to the appropriated genre.
Originality/Innovation: B+
Breaking down of the fourth wall in a daring, fun, and successful way.
Enjoyability Grade: A
Just fun to watch.
Overall Grade: A –
The triumphant return of Shane Black!
|
