Anna Daniels
Even if you haven’t seen Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, you’ve probably still heard about it, because it’s the sort of movie people can’t stop talking about after they have seen it. Don’t worry if you missed it in theaters, though, because most people did. That’s likely because Warner Bros., presumably unsure how to market a film starring a recovering problem child in RDJ and a fading heartthrob in Val Kilmer, essentially banished Kiss Kiss Bang Bang to video markets after a shamefully limited theatrical run.
Still, Black’s pitch-perfect neo-noir comedy has developed legit cult classic status in the years since via overwhelmingly positive word-of-mouth. As for RDJ, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was such a positive experience, he actually lobbied Marvel to bring Black aboard for the MCU’s trilogy-capping Iron Man 3.
While Iron Man 3‘s status in the MCU continues to be debated, the duo’s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang collaboration remains a highlight for both. Equal parts crackerjack murder mystery, lively buddy cop comedy, and incisive exploration of the fleeting perversity of showbiz, the film (Black’s first foray as director) sees Downey Jr. portraying petty criminal Harry, who unexpectedly becomes a cog in the Hollywood machine when he’s offered an audition for a major movie. Once in L.A., he’s paired with a private detective (Kilmer) who’s tasked with training him for the role.
The plot cleverly thickens when a late-night training session finds the duo witnessing a body being dumped, and when Harry’s high school flame (Michelle Monaghan) enters the picture. We’d like to say more about Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, but you’ll enjoy it all the better the less you know going in. Just be aware it features some vintage Shane Black scripting throughout (see also: Lethal Weapon and The Nice Guys), and a sparkling performance from Robert Downy Jr. that makes such marvelous use of his affably egoistic charm, it almost feels like a tune-up for his iconic work as Tony Stark.
Written by: Looper
