It's funny how some of the best movies get overlooked by the average movie going audience. If there aren't enough commercials or trailers telling the sheep... I mean people… what to go see, they don’t go see it. That was unfortunately the case for 2005's "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang." Of course, it didn't help that it had such an odd title. No one had any idea what it was about, and the marketing seemed all but non-existent. Heck, it was even in and out of the theatres so fast that I never had the chance to see it myself. So, the hope is that where the film died in theatres, it might find a new life (and an audience) on DVD.

Having finally watched it for myself last week, I'm hard-pressed to exlain it to you. It's kind of a mix between the older detective film noire style of movie mixed with "Lethal Weapon." The latter part should come as no surprise to anyone who is familiar with writer/director Shane Black's work, which included writing "Lethal Weapon." To say "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" is quirky is to do it a disservice as the movie is so entertainingly bizarre that quirky doesn’t even begin describe it.

The plot revolves around the misadventures of a thief by the name of Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey, Jr.), following a robbery gone awry. His partner is shot, and after a narrow escape finds himself in the middle of an audition for a movie role. He nails the audition and is befriended at an after party by a private detective, Perry van Shrike (Val Kilmer), who offers to coach Harry for an upcoming screen test. Now to give you an idea just how bizarre this film gets, Perry also happens to be a homosexual and goes by the name… Gay Perry. (Get it? Gay Perry…. Gay Paree… Ga… oh never mind…) From there, it just gets weirder. Harry goes out with Perry (no not that kind of going out… sheesh…) on an investigation involving a dead woman. Then there ends up being another dead woman, who happens to be the sister of one of the other actresses in the movie, Harmony Faith (Michelle Monaghan). The mystery unfolds from there.

Considering this film received little fanfare when it was released in theatres, watching it I wish it had. I saw a lot of movies last year and this one easily slips onto my top ten list for 2005. This was Black's first attempt at directing, yet there was an assuredness to the direction (however odd) and the camera work. It was obvious that he wanted to take the style of the detective film and exaggerate every one of their clichés. But he was very careful to tread the line between stylish embellishment and outright parody. "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" deftly mixes humor with violence, making it a Black Comedy. (Get it? Black Comedy…. Shane Black… Blac… oh never mind… again)

Warner Brothers Home Entertainment released the DVD for "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" earlier this month, unfortunately with only a few extra features. This film begs to have more, but at least none of what is included can be considered a throwaway. First up is a commentary by Black, who is joined by actors Robert Downey, Jr. and Val Kilmer. Black shares a fair number of anecdotes about the production, but Downey and Kilmer steal the limelight, playing off one another as much as they did onscreen. It is one of the best, or at least most entertaining commentaries I've listened to in a while. You'll also find a short Gag Reel that offers quite a few laughs.

I really wish "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" had gotten more of an opportunity to find an audience in theatres, but admittedly it does stray into some fairly bizarre situations that some of the more typical movie-going audiences might not have gotten. This is perhaps a better film to see on DVD, where the audience knows a little more about what they might be getting into.

Directed by: Shane Black
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan, Corbin Bernsen
Extras: Gag Reel, Commentary with Val Kilmer, Robert Downey Jr, and Shane Black, Theatrical Trailer
Specifications: Widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Studio: Warner Brothers
Release Date: 6/13/2006
Region 1
MPAA Rating: R (Language, Violence and Sexuality / Nudity)
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We'll give Kiss Kiss Bang Bang an A.