Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

The review praises it as a hugely entertaining mix of film noir, comic buddy movie and metacinematic romp, a triumph of savvy tone and ironic attitude that works best in comic mode, singling out Kilmer's fine comic turn.

It calls the film a hilarious game of nudge-nudge wink-wink with compelling performances from Downey Jr and Kilmer's battery of one-liners, describing it as a quirky noir that packs more heat than the average action thriller.

The critic finds the film an audacious directorial debut from Shane Black that mixes meta genre play with strong characters and dialogue. It succeeds through its cast, especially Downey Jr. and Kilmer, despite occasional dips into plot mechanics.

The review describes Black's directorial debut as an ultra-knowing contemporary take on the gumshoe procedural, highlighting Downey's rumpled performance and the enjoyable self-aware narration and formal trickery.

The critic calls it a silly, self-reflexive lark with spitfire sarcasm that showcases Black's return as director. It excels in Downey Jr.'s performance and playful noir tropes but lacks deeper engagement with the genre's fatalism.

The film is not a bust and comes out smiling thanks to the yakking performances of Kilmer, Monaghan, and Downey Jr., even if it sometimes feels like the Annual General Meeting of Hollywood Smart-asses Incorporated. It remains a slithery treat despite being smug.

Shane Black's witty, audacious directorial debut is an innovative buddy movie indebted to Tarantino and Wilder, with strong central performances from Downey Jr. and Kilmer. It is uneven and a bit too clever for its own good, though it delivers laughs a minute.

The film contains comedy and invention but is slowed by its overly clever, self-referential style that often feels like it is spinning its wheels. Performances by Downey Jr. and Kilmer stand out amid the banter and genre nods.

The exuberant directorial debut is too ostentatiously pleased with itself and in love with its own cleverness, wearing the audience out with nonstop glossy patter and a hyper-complex, self-referential plot. It is entertaining for a while but ultimately exhausting.

The movie is a flashy, trifling throwaway whose surface cleverness masks self-infatuated credulity, though it offers the cast a chance for inspired riffing. It evokes noir conventions in a post-Pulp Fiction way without much reason for existing.

Black's directorial debut is a bold, breathless, meta-lunatic comedy-thriller that deconstructs pulp noir and action formulas with satirical cunning and barbed writing. It succeeds thanks to terrific lead performances despite an incomprehensible plot and chaotic posturing.

The critic views it as a compendium of Black's familiar stylistic tics and witty repartee that drives the film more than its convoluted plot, praising the relaxed interplay among Downey, Kilmer and Monaghan but finding it lacking in personal depth or coherence.

The critic finds the film a smart, writerly neo-noir thriller packed with hellzapoppin’ comedy and self-aware storytelling that playfully exposes movie tropes. Val Kilmer’s hilarious turn as the gay PI Gay Perry stands out as the performance singled out for particular praise.

The review calls the film a sarky, sniping film noir homage that assassinates LA archetypes with savage dialogue delivered by Downey Jr and Kilmer. The odd-couple chemistry is highlighted as a strength, though the dense and incoherent plot is noted as a drawback.

The film is one of the year's best: a smart, metafictional noir blending brutal violence, caustic humor, and self-referential wit with soulful performances. Downey Jr., Kilmer, and Monaghan anchor the chaos, turning genre conventions into something fresh and fun.

The critic finds the film a fresh, quick-witted black comedy with razor-sharp dialogue and plenty of laughs that is highly enjoyable. They single out the charismatic performances of Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer for particular praise.

The critic praises Shane Black's directorial debut as a razor-sharp comedy noir that cleverly comments on its own genre and script while delivering flat-out fun and efficient storytelling. It singles out the strong performances, especially the tetchy banter between Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer, along with the film's unexpectedly sweet morality and heartfelt moments.

The review describes the film as an entertaining noir-black-comedy-thriller with strong buddy banter and situational comedy, crediting Shane Black's direction and the chemistry between Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer. It singles out the witty dialogue, including memorable lines like 'the dog ate my fingerprints,' and recommends it highly for its fun and success.