College Voice

Issue date: 11/2/05 Section: Entertainment

Media Credit: Warner Brothers

Media Credit: Warner Brothers

Media Credit: Warners Brother

"Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" is of the hybrid genre called the buddy/action movie, created by director Shane Black. He is known for his ability to combine comedy, action/suspense, and thriller, allowing the audience to experience the element of "Escapism." Black was the creative force behind "Lethal Weapon," "The Last Boy Scout," and "Long Kiss Goodnight."

Filled with witty dialogue and hilarious banter, this film is reminiscent of the screwball comedies of the 1930s and 1940s. Also rampant in this film are themes of old school, private eye murder mysteries.

Robert Downey Jr. plays the part of petty thief, turned actor, turned private eye, Harry Lockhart. He is an eternal optimist with perpetual bad luck.

It is this bad luck that gets him caught while he is out doing some late night "Christmas shopping" in a New York City toy store. Harry stumbles into an acting audition while trying to escape the police. It is this audition that propels him into the brutal, damaged world of Los Angeles.

While in LA Harry gets paired up with the gay, tough-guy, private investigator Perry Van Shrike, nicknamed "Gay Perry," played by Val Kilmer. Kilmer's memorable portrayal of this multifaceted character is one without the usual stereotypes.

While preparing Harry for his upcoming screen test, Gay Perry and Harry Lockhart wind up intertwined in seemingly different murder mysteries that keep crossing paths.

There is plenty of natural chemistry between the two from beginning to end, even though Gay Perry seems to have no patience for Harry and the misfortune that surrounds him. Although these two leading characters have vastly different personalities, one who loses a finger and the other who's cell phone rings to the song "I Will Survive," together they make this very original movie, complete.

Harry runs into his childhood crush, Harmony Faith Lane, an aspiring actress who is slightly past her prime, played by Michelle Monaghan at an industry party at actor turned entrepreneur, Harlon Dexter's house, played by Corbin Bernsen.

Harmony enlists the help of Harry to find out who murdered her sister while simultaneously Gay Perry is working on a case involving Harlon Dexter's daughter.

Harry feels that he and Harmony have been brought together by fate, which allows a love story to unfold amongst all the mayhem, dead bodies and murder attempts.

Harry, who's always trying to do the right thing, inadvertently complicates Gay Perry's investigations and endangers his own life countless times. Yet, in the end, he winds up being the unlikely hero.

Characteristic of old private eye stories, the intertwined plots in this film lead to some confusion and require the audience to think a little bit, but in a good way.

Robert Downey Jr. is funny and entertaining as his character, Harry Lockhart, but even more hysterical is the way he recounts the events in the film as the narrator.

This playful, often off the wall, dark, comedy offers audiences suspense, tons of laughter and a genuine attraction to the characters.

"Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" has it all. This film will leave you on the edge of your seat, with tears in your eyes, and could quite possibly be one of the best movies you see this year.

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