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)
Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.) is basically a decent guy. Sure, he's a petty thief who skates through life on a shaky cocktail of dog-eared charm and cockeyed optimism, but he wants to do the right thing. He just doesn't know how, exactly. Harry's perpetual bad luck takes a turn for the better when he and his partner are doing some after-hours Christmas 'shopping' at a New York City toy store and the security alarm breaks up the party. In making his frantic getaway from the cops, Harry inadvertently stumbles into an audition for a Hollywood detective movie, and faster than you can say Jack Robinson, the producer flies him to Los Angeles for a screen test. Thrust into the cutthroat world of L.A.'s pros, cons, losers and wannabes, Harry is teamed with tough-guy private eye Perry van Shrike (Val Kilmer), AKA 'Gay Perry', to prepare him for his screen test. (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment)
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Reviews (9)
"Look up idiot in the dictionary, and you know what you'll find? "A... picture of my face? "No! The definition of the word idiot which you fucking are!." I have not laughed this hard in a long time. I got exactly what I expected, and I am completely satisfied. There is some black comedy, the vice-ridden world of Los Angeles, an interesting storytelling style, unexpected twists, and awesome characters. Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer had a blast, and I also had a great time. 9/10.
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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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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. Noir is parodied here and at the same time receives a proper tribute, and buddy movies, as a practically dead genre, get a substantial injection for several years ahead. Above all, the central duo of "Perry the Gay Guy and Harry the New Yorker" can convincingly toughen up, turn established tough-guy tricks on their head, and surprisingly get under the viewer's skin from the opening minutes.
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A sympathetic film thanks to a series of successful catchphrases, self-irony, and the decadent environment of Hollywood. However, it is precisely the kind of film where I appreciate a lot of details, but the overall impression is not so great. Namely, the film has an overcomplicated script, purposeless squeezing out of humor, and violent jumping between crazy situations and more serious tones. In addition, out of the three main actors, only Robert Downey Jr. works for me completely. I don't really like Val Kilmer and he only ever impressed me in The Salton Sea. Michelle Monaghan is a fine actress, but she didn't fit into this role and I would prefer a dozen others in her place. Moreover, the script also omitted a lot of self-deprecating dialogues and jokes, it works exactly in the spirit of what is expected. Simply put, it has been done many times before. Overall impression: 65%.
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