Sunday, October 30, 2005

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (***1/2)

What an awesome flick. This is a real movie movie. It's self-aware, stylish, and showy. It knows what it is, and boy, does it have fun with the conventions of noir-action-comedy-buddy films. Shane Black, the writer-director, is behind some of the more enjoyable and influential action flicks of the late 80s and 90s. Lethal Weapon, The Last Boy Scout, and The Long Kiss Goodnight are all his. Here, he has the benefit of working with Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer, two actors who give his script the ultimate reading. It's ballsy, hard-boiled, clever writing. Some of the lines are just screamingly funny. Kilmer particularly shines as the gay private detective affectionately called "Gay Perry." A two-bit thief and gay P.I. are not the typical match in these kinds of movies, but Black knows this and has a grand old time shooting holes through what these movies tend to require and what audiences expect. Along with Kung Fu Hustle, this is the most unabashedly exhilarating moviegoing experience of the year so far. Go see this little gem now.

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