Many, many years ago the name Shane Black was synoymous with big money. After penning the buddy action flick Lethal Weapon Black became one of the highest paid screenwriters of the time with scripts for Last Boy Scout, Last Action Hero and The Long Kiss Goodnight. With many millions came much criticism, especially after his last two films, particularly LKG, were box office disasters (I for one saw Long Kiss Goodnight and really liked it, but, based on the Pirates 2 controversy, what do I know!). After disappearing for a decade or so Shane Black is back with a bang…two of them to be exact and a couple of kisses thrown in for good measure.

Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang is a film that I am sad to say I did not see in the theatre. I stumbled across a mention of it on author James Reasoner’s blog. I discovered Reasoner’s site due to an affinity for Robert E. Howard and have kept reading because he has a love of old pulp and noir tales including many of those whose covers are graced by one of my favorite artists Robert McGinnis. In fact, it was Reasoner’s comment that “alot of shots in this film are like McGinnis covers come to life” that sent me straight to my Netflix queue to move KKBB to the top. And I am so glad that I did. Movies are an interesting thing. Despite blockbusters (like Pirates 2, Batman Begins) that I really enjoy it is the smaller, sometimes weirder films that turn out to be true treasures that I rave about and hold out as examples of how neat films can be: Pieces of April, The Station Agent, Chungking Express, Donnie Darko, and now Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang.

The story of how Shane Black came to both pen KKBB and make it his directorial debut is an interesting one that I will just link to here. Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang is a film that is almost impossible to sum up briefly and so full of fun moments that to talk about too many of them would be to ruin the virgin experience of one’s first viewing.

The basic plot is that small-time New York crook Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey, Jr. in one of his best performances yet) unintentionally gets his friend killed while robbing a toy store. To avoid the police he stumbles into an audition and his raw and real performance captures the attention of the producer who ships Harry off to L.A. There he meets real life detective and film consultant Perry Van Shrike (Val Kilmer), aka “Gay Perry”, a homosexual P.I. hired to help Harry learn to act like a detective. Soon after meeting the very hot wannabe actress Harmony Faith Lane (Michelle Monaghan…really, what can I say? Whew!) the bodies start piling up and Harry is drawn into the unfamiliar and dangerous world of murder and mystery.

That is just the very rough skeletal outline of this film. KKBB is an extremely verbose film (and I mean that in a good way) with Robert Downey, Jr. narrating and he and Kilmer trading one liners faster than a speeding bullet. The dialogue is witty, frenetic, satirical and self-aware as is the film itself. RDJ and Val Kilmer are literally perfect in their respective roles. I cannot imagine anyone else pulling off these roles with such charisma. Throughout the film Michelle Monaghan holds her own as well and the chemistry between the three characters is palpable. This is a 60’s noir film set in the modern day with quick-and sometimes sick-humor, fantastic acting, and brilliant pacing. The 4th wall is broken often as Robert Downey, Jr. narrates to the audience and at times backs up the film to allow the viewer to pick up on important plot points. All throughout the film are references to other movies, television shows, etc. that reward multiple viewings. One of my favorites is a reference to the 50’s television show My Friend Flicka.

Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang is not a film that will cater to everyone. There is an abundance of language, including liberal use of the word ‘fuck’, that may not appeal to everyone. In fact ‘fuck’ is used so often that there is actually a joke about it in the film. The film is also quite violent but never to the point, in my opinion, that it is gratuitous like films I’ve seen it compared to (Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill). And, quite frankly, it is weird. Some viewers will be annoyed with the fast-paced, babbling narration. I myself found it to be one of the most charming parts of the film and the thing that hooked me instantly. And yet despite the language, violence, and subject matter of the film the character of Harry Lockhart has an uncharacteristic morality about him that makes him a very chivalrous leading man.

If I haven’t made my point yet let me say that everything about this film thrilled me. I’ve already told you that Downey, Jr. and Kilmer are fantastic. Let me say it again, they really are! Michelle Monaghan, who had little to do in this year’s summer blockbuster Mission Impossible: III, shines here…in fact she is so beautiful as a real life personification of a McGinnis painting that she practically glows. In addition she is so laid back and delivers her lines with such affinity for the character that you could swear the part was written just for her.

The dialogue is top notch. Black takes his skill with buddy comedy (showcased in the original Lethal Weapon) and marries it with a noirish black comedy and the heart and soul of a romantic comedy to come up with a movie that is pure fun from start to finish. I haven’t been this excited about dialogue since discovering Whedon’s Firefly on DVD. The way the film is shot is visually arresting. The sepia tones of flashback scenes and the vivid color of the entire film are a delight to the eye. Some of the shots, like one of a No Vacancy neon motel sign viewed from below with the night sky as a background, demonstrate the overall look and feel of the film so well. Running throughout the story is a series of fictional detective novels that mimic the Mike Shayne novels of Brett Halliday (in fact KKBB is loosely based on a Halliday story) that have covers that are either actual McGinnis covers or darn good rip-offs. As James Reasoner said on his site, if the books were real I’d have them on my shelf. The opening scene graphics are 60’s crime drama all the way and along with the soundtrack are like the gift wrapping on this cinematic present.

Allow me to wrap it up by saying that Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang is not a film with a life-altering message or any deep meaning. It is film making for the simple fun of making movies and making them well. It is as much a satire on the fickleness of Hollywood as it is a top-notch crime comedy. It is intelligent and witty and is the movie I am most surprised and pleased with of anything I have watched all year. I have seen in 3 times now, watched it with Mary (who also really enjoyed it) and am passing around the copy I ended up going out and snagging (used) for myself. I look forward to discussing this more with any who have seen it and am willing to add you to the lending list if you haven’t and would like to.