Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

Synopsis: Robert Downey Jr. mugs his way through charming, yet highly contrived film noir-buddy-action- comedy. 

Blurb From the DVD Jacket: “They say love and money don’t mix, but you can’t blame Harry Lockhart for trying. He’s been whisked from a life of petty crime to Hollywood, where he’ll audition for the role of a movie detective and be tutored for the part by a private eye.” 

What Did I Learn?: 1) If you’re going to hold somebody at gunpoint, please stand at least five feet away so they don’t attempt to disarm you. 2) If you look up “idiot” in the dictionary, you will find a definition of the word idiot. 3) “Ike, Mike and Mustard” is a fairly obscure reference. 

You Might Like This Movie If: You really want to solve a murder case.

 

Really?: 1) So, Harry works as a burglar and thief in New York City. Funny how those talents are never once used to advance the plot in this movie. 2) I realize Harmony’s dad was a child-abusing pedophile in his youth, but it’s still disturbing to see an old man on a respirator getting slapped around. 3) So wait – Dexter invited Harmony to his party – based solely upon seeing her on the evening news – and he also unknowingly invited her sister? That’s a coinky-dink. 

Rating: The plot of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a little implausible (see: “Really?), but the film crackles with clever humour and crisp dialogue. Moreover, Downey is superb as the scuzzy-but-likely Harry Lockhart, and he shares some genuine chemistry with Val Kilmer and Michelle Monaghan. Highly recommended. 9/10 stars. 

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373469/?ref_=nv_sr_1