At Christmas, a seasoned criminal Harry Lockheart accidentally stumbles into a job in Hollywood.
At a party, he runs into an old flame from his youth, and meets a PI who has been hired to teach him about Investigator work.
During their first night out training, they are thrown into a world of chaos when they witness a potential murder – and must try to work out “whodunit”.
Direction
Directed by (and written by) 90’s action writer superstar Shane Black. The action is fun (and some of the violence is both graphically realistic, and hilariously funny as well).
Cast/Characters
Robert Downey Jr (in a pre Iron Man role) is brilliant as Harry. His comedic timing is on point and pairs well with his co-stars.
Val Kilmer is equally brilliant as “Gay” Perry, the PI hired to show Harry how to be a PI, and gets caught up in the twists and turns as they try to uncover ‘whodunit’
Michelle Monaghan plays Harmony, Harry’s childhood sweetheart – who by happenstance has a connection to the murder.
Other co-stars include Corbin Bernson, Rockmond Dunbar and Dash Mihok.
Breakdown
One of the funniest comedies of the naughties, that few too many people have seen (or heard of?). Harry’s literal walking into fame (by walking into an audition following a bungled robbery) is something that could only appear in film.
There is also some very self aware narration, where Harry almost seemingly is aware he is in a movie. He is also aware that he is narrating a film as well which makes it even more meta.
As with most of Black’s written films – he is able to bring two people who have no business being partnered, but makes it work. Like other films (Lethal Weapon, The Good Guys), he writes these characters so well. The banter especially between Perry and Harry is some of the funniest I’ve seen. Two moments that stand out the most are the Russian roulette sequence (it’s 8%) – and the ‘definition of an idiot’ insult from Perry to Harry.
The way foundation of the backstory is almost noir like with Harry learning to be a Private Eye, from a Private Eye. He is obsessed with a noir novel Det Gossemer series.
The series of events that Harry and Perry go through never really lets up from the moment they witness the car crash, (then Perry shoots the body, Harry finds it in his apartment, getting rid of it etc).
The Harmony/Veronica/Jenna situation does take a lot to get your head around – as well as the parentage of Jenna/Veronica – and then the addition of the Pink Haired Girl too.
I loved that they added snippets of Corbin Bernson’s past work as the film history of his character Harland Dexter, but found the whole Harland/Veronica contrived and convoluted.
Despite feeling like it is wrapping up at around 3/4 to go, it amps up again after this with some very realistic violence (the through and through bullet hitting Perry and Harry) and the choreography of the final shoot out (Harry hanging off the body) is none well too.
Overall
With strong performances, hilarious dialogue, fun action – this is peak Black writing and directing.
RDJ and the late great Val Kilmer are peak ‘buddy cop’ and work well together.
The antagonist narrative is slightly convoluted, but the ups far outweigh the downs.
A strong recommend!
4/5
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