Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is arguably Shane Black’s most underrated movie against the giants of Lethal Weapon, Iron Man 3, and 2016’s The Nice Guys. The 2005 movie gained a large cult following years after its premiere, which is in part due to its arrival on numerous streaming platforms, and it now sits at 86% on Rotten Tomatoes. Robert Downey Jr. stars as the lead, and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang follows the unfortunate events of Harry Lockhart, who also provides narration for a large proportion of the movie.
Although Robert Downey Jr. is mostly acclaimed for his role as the billionaire philanthropist, Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, his role in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was crucial for the upward success of his sequential career. The self-referential comedy pairs Downey Jr. with Val Kilmar (“Gay Perry”), saddling the murder-mystery tropes with dark humor, to create an intricate tale full of surprise twists. Despite the convoluted ending of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang which may require an explanation, there are multiple moments throughout the one-hour and 43-minute runtime when Harry Lockhart delivers a comedic performance more hilarious than anything he did as Tony Stark.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Is Robert Downey Jr.’s Funniest Movie
Despite Starring In Multiple Comedies, The Neo-Noir Comedy Reigns Superior
Robert Downey Jr. is remarkable at performing comedic-driven dialogue, and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is the first role in Downey Jr.’s career to truly showcase this. Shane Black’s directorial debut centers around the criminal from New York City, Harry Lockhart, who stumbles into an audition that wins him a role in Hollywood, and sends him into a murder investigation alongside his sweetheart, Harmony (Michelle Monaghan) and the private eye, Perry van Shrike (Val Kilmer). The comedic tone of the movie allows Robert Downey Jr. to fully leverage his comedic expertise, resulting in his jokes landing with a greater impact.
Robert Downey Jr. has tackled a number of genres, and comedy is definitely on his resume, with roles in pictures such as Tropic Thunder and Due Date. However, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is unquestionably the funniest film in the actor’s repertoire and arguably one of Robert Downey Jr.’s best movies in general because of Harry Lockhart’s signature characteristics. Often blissfully oblivious to the events going on around him, Lockhart is a simple-minded individual with a short fuse. A voice-over narration is crucial for Harry Lockhart’s comedic strength, as the opportunity to tell his own story rewards his impulsive nature, keeping audiences entertained as he unknowingly interferes with Perry’s investigation.
Val Kilmer helps to underscore Robert Downey Jr.’s credibility in the comedy genre, as Perry is the ideal scene partner for Lockhart’s antics. Kilmer’s character offers a much-needed counterbalance to Harry’s hyperactive energy, and his calm demeanor highlights the absurdity of Downey Jr.’s remarks, which contributes comedic elements to each scene. The chemistry between the pair is crucial for the success of the humorous themes of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
How Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Prepared Robert Downey Jr. For Iron Man
Harry Lockhart Caught The Attention Of Iron Man Director, Jon Favreau
More often than not, Iron Man is considered the role that was the resurgence of Robert Downey Jr’s career. This isn’t entirely inaccurate, as Tony Stark has become one of the most-recognizable names in Hollywood, but these riches would not have graced the famed actor if it weren’t for his involvement in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. This role solidified Robert Downey Jr.’s Hollywood comeback after years of overcoming addiction, and demonstrated that he was at the top of his game, and ready to undertake more comedy and action-led roles.
Robert Downey Jr. says that
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
ended up being his ”
calling card into the Marvel universe,”
and is, ”
in some ways, the best film [he’s] ever done.”
Robert Downey Jr. says that Kiss Kiss Bang Bang ended up being his “calling card into the Marvel universe,” and is, “in some ways, the best film [he’s] ever done.” It may not have performed well at the box office, but the comedy caught the attention of director Jon Favreau, who was searching for a Tony Stark, and was confident that the actor’s skill set made him the ideal fit for the role. This was the beginning of an immensely lucrative career in the extended Marvel Cinematic Universe for Robert Downey Jr., until his sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Wasn’t A Hit (But It Still Became A Classic)
Shane Black’s Directorial Debut Was A Box Office Flop
The film premiered with a limited theatrical release, and with a budget of $15 million, the movie only grossed $15.8 million worldwide, which contributed to its Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’s box office flop. Although the project recuperated its losses, it’s a surprise that the movie did not perform better at the box office, especially with Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer’s names attached to the project, who were both very big names in the industry at the time.
That being said,
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
‘s intricate storytelling and subversion of the murder-mystery genre stands the test of time and is the reason that audiences found acclaim for the project years later.
Nevertheless, Kiss Kiss Bang Banghas since grown in stature since then, and has amassed a very loyal following, becoming a cult classic. Robert Downey Jr.’s role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe may have helped to boost its visibility, since many audiences will have returned to his portfolio in support of his work. That being said, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang‘s intricate storytelling and subversion of the murder-mystery genre stands the test of time and is the reason that audiences found acclaim for the project years later.
Source: Men’s Health
