Directed by Shane Black, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a 2005 dark comedy that was completely overlooked in the US, barely grossing $4.2M at the US box office, despite mostly favorable critical acclaim.

Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.) is a petty thief who is mistaken for an actor while burglarizing some store in an hilarious beginning to the movie. He is sent to Los Angeles where he meets Gay Perry (Val Kilmer), a gay private detective (ah ah how clever) with whom he is supposed to get detective lessons for a role, and Harmony Lane (Michelle Monaghan), a struggling actress. Harry immediately falls for Harmony who he later recognizes as his high school crush. Everything gets awry when Harry gets entangled in some odd murder mystery while shadowing Perry. The three team up to solve the mysterious deaths and more hilarity ensues.

The structure of the movie is refreshing with Downey narrating the movie at various point in time. The movie sometimes pauses or jumps backward in time to let the narration enlighten the audience. There is a good amount of satire and mocking of numerous aspects of Hollywood and movie making that keep the film entertaining throughout. More than anything however, the movie is about story telling (hint: literally, watch the ending, I won’t say more).

Robert Downey Jr. is… Robert Downey Jr, in a good way. You know the quirky, fast-talking, super-smart guy we are used to. Only this time, he is not super-smart and a simple mathematical calculations toward the end of the movie goes hilariously wrong! This was a role that very few Hollywood actors could have successfully taken and Downey was perfect for it. However, Val Kilmer was the revelation of the movie. I haven’t seen him in so long. I never thought he could be that funny and show great nuance between being both a tough and queer guy! Both have great on-screen chemistry and are hilarious together. Michelle Monaghan is solid as the attractive yet down-to-Earth girl next door gone a bit wrong.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is an hilarious and smartass dark comedy slash thriller that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Robert Downey Jr. was perfect in another role made only for him and the endless pop culture reference keep the movie entertaining all the way to the credits. At the end of the day though, the movie has a complex plot that is much about nothing.

B+