Some films are obscure because they were made by unknown people. Some films are obscure because they deserve to be obscure. Some are obscure because of circumstances beyond their authors’ control. The example of the latter can be found in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, 2001 British crime comedy written and directed by Stewart Sugg, film that few people heard of simply because it shares the title with much better known Hollywood crime comedy made four years later.
The protagonist, played by Stellan Skarsgård, is Felix, professional killer who became tired of his job and wants to retire and leave young protege Jimmy (played by Paul Bettany) to take his job within London criminal organisation. That proves difficult to achieve, because the gangsters don’t take the whole idea of retirement likely and instead want to end both Felix’s career and life and the same time. In the meantime, Felix wants to make ends meet and takes the job of caretaker for Bubba (played by Chris Penn), an adult man with a mind of little child who has spent almost entire life sheltered from the world. The job becomes very difficult, even more so because he has to evade assassins at the same time.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is based on an interesting idea to mix Tarantinoesque black comedy about criminals with the plot of Rain Man. Actors chosen for the part are great. Stellan Skarsgård, who is usually relegated to supporting role in Hollywood films, obviously enjoys playing the protagonist for the change. Chris Penn in one of his latter roles also tries something different and delivers interesting performance. Australian actress Jacqueline Mackenzie also has good chemistry with Skarsgård while playing protagonist’s girlfriend. Unfortunately, Sugg’s ambitions appear way above his talents and beyond relatively limited budget. His script plays with too many things at once, trying to pay homage to film noir, Charles Bronson’s underrated classic The Mechanic and Hong Kong action films. Film never establishes proper focus and tonal shifts between violence and comedy are at times too annoying. Thanks to great cast, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is watchable, but eponymous Hollywood film being better known doesn’t look that surprising.
RATING: 4/10 (+)
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