Witty, fast and extremely funny, “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” cleverly sends up the detective genre, as a real detective, a thief-turned-actor taking “detective lessons” and a beautiful girl try to solve a murder mystery. Taking on the perils of Hollywood and the conventions of pulp detective novels, writer-director Shane Black, who helped pioneer the funny action movie with the “Lethal Weapon” franchise, gives his charismatic cast amusing adventures to have and hilarious lines to say.
When petty thief Harry (Robert Downey, Jr.) stumbles into an audition as he evades the police, he is whisked off to L.A. where he’s groomed for a movie role with glamorous parties and detective lessons from “Gay Perry” (Val Kilmer). These two talented actors have bubbly comic chemistry together, and the tired smart guy/dumb guy shtick becomes enjoyable. When Harry encounters a beautiful friend from his past failing as a Hollywood actress, the plot thickens and twists merrily along.
Tongue-in-cheek yet exciting, “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” goes beyond the popular crutch of movies that are so violent it’s funny. With characters that are longing for the simpler times of their youth, when they could escape into detective novels that always got solved, this movie also boasts that old-fashioned value of good writing. The pacing is skillful and the plot was conceived by someone who knew what he was doing.
“Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” is much better than most of the movies I have seen lately. It is funnier, tighter and smarter. Maybe it is the mark of the various veterans involved, from the writer and director to the actors, talented grown-ups rather than gorgeous kids.
There is in fact a melancholy of middle age to the film, a sad and knowing quality that the characters have. They have earned their jadedness through experience. They have read all the books and seen all the movies before and, even though they know how things usually end, they are trying anyway. This is the quality that gives the relationships in the film their meaning, and that meaning is what makes the movie more than just very funny.
“Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” is currently available to rent.
I just saw “Casanova” and I’m already having trouble remembering much about it. A feather-light comedy about the famous lover and his one true love, this would-be confection is muddied by arbitrary plotting and a general lack of direction. A farce is one thing, but this was silly in a bad way, in a way that makes you care absolutely nothing for the characters and what they are trying to do.
A comedy must be consistently funny throughout, or you start to wonder whether the humor is intentional or accidental, and that is what happened here. As is often the case, Oliver Platt, in a ludicrous fat suit, was the only thing worth watching, which is surprising given that Heath Ledger was the star.
After playing a pent-up gay man in “Brokeback Mountain,” Ledger is disappointing as the ultimate heterosexual. The object of his affection is Sienna Miller, rendered oddly unattractive by brown hair and totally failing to click onscreen with Ledger. Jeremy Irons showed up halfway through, and was quickly made ridiculous.
There were so many plot lines it was difficult to keep up, especially when there seemed no particular incentive to do so. In short, “Casanova,” a comedy full of sex, lies, sumptuous costumes, attractive actors and set in Venice, was boring.
Director Lasse Hallstrom, the director of such sentimental fare as “Chocolat” and “The Cider House Rules” faltered here when he tried to inject comedy into his emotional format. This movie was never funny enough to be a comedy or romantic enough to be a romance; rather each element sapped the other and undermined its effect.
“Casanova” is currently available to rent.
Contact Asia Frey at afrey@lagniappemobile.com.
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