Downey (as a well-intentioned, but hopelessly dense wanna-be actor, private detective, and tough guy) and Val Kilmer (as a macho, super-competent private eye who happens to be gay) play their leading men roles with tongues firmly planted in cheek. They are joined by Michelle Monaghan as Harmony Faith Lane - another implied reference, her three-word character name echoing Vivian Sternwood Rutledge, the Lauren Bacall flirtatious dame bantering with Humphrey Bogart while trying to help her younger sister in The Big Sleep, just as Monaghan's character does here. If that last sentence seemed convoluted, read it again. It will eventually make sense, and it's good practice for watching the film.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is divided into chapters, each with its own title card. Fans of the genre will recognize each title as the name of a Raymond Chandler story.
For all its strengths, the movie ends a bit on the weak side. It sets up the big revelation to the central mystery with a device I used to love while watching Ellery Queen episodes on television; Downey's narration suddenly addresses us in the audience and tells us we have all the clues - can we figure out the answer? Then they proceed to solve the mystery with a leap of intuition and a connection so tenuous and ludicrous that I still can't figure out if it's supposed to be another joke or simply an act of desperation and expediency by the scriptwriter. There is also a disappointing payoff to a long-standing injustice and a wrap up that just veers over the line into too cute territory.
But these are minor imperfections in a thoroughly enjoyable film. Highly recommended, particularly (and possibly exclusively) for fans of film noir. Extras on the disc are limited to the theatrical trailer, a short gag reel, and one of the weirder commentary tracks you are likely to hear: Robert Downey Jr. and Shane Black attempt to hold their own against a manic Val Kilmer, who starts a contest to count the number of celebrity name drops he can pack in during the course of the commentary. For all his reputation as an impossible person to work with, Kilmer sure comes across as a guy who likes to have a good time!
Article comments
1 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Nice review--made me want to see the movie right away, especially as a Chandler fan.
2 - Joyce
Perhaps a little of Downey has rubbed off on Kilmer...... Robert makes everyone laugh.