Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

What a surprise! A movie, starring damaged goods (Robert Downey Jr, Val Kilmer) and made by the forgotten man, Shane (Lethal Weapon) Black, turns out to be quite brilliant. It is hard-boiled Hollywood noir, featuring fantastic dialogue and great performances.

Downey plays Harry Lockhart, who, while on the run from the cops stumbles into a screen test and is chosen to play a detective, which involves receiving tuition from a real Californian PI, Gay Perry (Val Kilmer). During this time, the hapless Harry bumps into his childhood sweetheart (Michelle Monaghan) and becomes involved in a genuine murder, which leads to situations such as fingers being eaten by dogs and corpses being urinated upon.

Kilmer is a revelation, which almost makes up for early embarrassments (The Island Of Dr Moreau, The Saint), while Downey resurrects his tarnished talent with style and finesse and Monaghan should become the next big thing after this - if she doesn't, there is no justice under the paper moon - and it's good to see Larry Miller, who is never less than a delight.

However, the real star is writer/director Black. His screenplay is laugh-out-loud funny at times and Harry's voiceover narrative, which often "breaks the fourth wall," is dead on target. He also provides a couple of trademark OTT action sequences, which never goes amiss.

The only flaw is that the film may be too smart for it's own good and some of the in-jokes might pass people by. It doesn't surprise me that it did badly in the US - what do they know?

Kiss Kiss is ideal Friday night/Saturday night fare. Go out and ensure that this great film receives the audience it deserves.