Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’s ending, with its voice-over, body doubles, and callbacks, can be confused on first viewing. Shane Black directed and wrote Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, a neo-noir comedy. The film follows and is narrated in voice-over by Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.), a small-time crook who ends up in the Los Angeles film scene after his admission of guilt is misinterpreted as method acting.
Harry becomes entangled with private investigator “Gay Perry” van Shrike (Val Kilmer) in Los Angeles during the Christmas season, when so many Black films are set, and tAt the end of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, the complex story strands, mystery people, and several murders are all resolved. When Harmony (Michelle Monaghan) goes missing after leaving Perry a voicemail claiming she has solved her sister’s murder case, Perry and Harry explore a psychiatric institution where all of their leads have taken them. There, they discover that Veronica, the first murder victim who set off the film, was forced into institutionalization by her father, Harlan Dexter (Corbin Bernsen). Harlan and his goons then kidnap and torture Perry and Harry. Harry contacts Harmony ahead of time and explains that Harlan is responsible for all of the deaths they have been investigating.
Harry and Perry escape, and Harry, having regained his strength, shoots Harlan and his men. Right before hehe odd couple solves a murder investigation together.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a post-modern noir with many of the features of the neo-noir genre, including midnight settings, revenge themes,
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’s fanciful title adds to its charm, albeit it’s not immediately evident why the film is titled so, even at the conclusion. The title is based on a track called “Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” from the fourth James Bond film, Thunderball. However, the reason behind this decision is considerably more straightforward. In an interview with Chud, Shane Black said of the title decision, “It’s a really plain austere title, and it’s what the movie is. It’s half romantic comedy, half mystery thriller. “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang.” Essentially, Black liked how the title sounded.
In the same interview, Black admits that he was not aware of “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang”
When Perry and Harry arrive at the hospital, they learn from records that Harlan’s true daughter, Veronica, the lady whose corpse Perry shot at the beginning of the film, was institutionalized at Harlan’s request. Harlan then hired Pink Hair Girl (Shannyn Sossamon) to replace her in a court hearing, allowing Harlan to acquire a significant bequest from his late wife that had been intended for Veronica. He then takes her and dumps her body in the lake depicted earlier in the movie. He hadn’t counted on Harry and Perry being there.
Harlan and his men pursue Harry, Perry, and Harmony during the last scene of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Harmony jumps from a bridge to safety, but Perry is shot and unresponsive. This leaves Harry alone to confront Harlan. Throughout the film, Harry is shown to be a poor fighter. However, Harry’s phone rings, and Harmony pleads to him, “Use your awesome might, save me from this hopeless plight.” This is a reference to the film’s prologue, in which Harry and Harmony perform a magic show as youngsters, with Harmony saying the same lines during their performance.
This gives Harry the courage and strength to use Perry’s gun to shoot Harlan and his men. Harry shoots three.
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