Kiss Kiss (Bang Bang) (2001)

Sadly Over-hyped

Absolutely Fantastic

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Recap: Felix is an old hand at the assassination game. But now he has lost the taste for it and wants out before he ends up dead. He has trained Jimmy, who he regards as his replacement, and declares his intentions. But he is in short supply of cash and needs a job. An art and antiquities dealer offers him a lot of it if he looks after his son. But the son turns out to be an extremely over protected 33 year old man who never has left the house. Felix can't stand it and takes him home where he gets a crash course in real life. For at the same time Felix's old agent is out to kill him as he can't accept Felix's decision to leave.Comments: A movie with friends Stellan Skarsgård and Paul Bettany naturally comes with high expectations, as both are skilled actors. However, it fail to meet those expectations on almost every point. Bettany soon gets sidetracked to a small side plot and the main story between Felix and the old boy Bubba, played by Chris Penn, quickly turn ridiculous. And not funny ridiculous but predictable and cliché filled uninteresting ridiculous. Naturally Felix seem not to be able to stand Bubba's naive and childish ways but of course they soon form a bond that will teach them both a lesson about life and mature. This is evident from the moment they meet and from that point the movie became dull and uninteresting. I've seen it before and it wasn't any better then either.It does end a little peculiar though. I'm not sure I like it or not, but it sure is different compared to the rest of the movie. Because suddenly it turns back to the assassin action movie that it briefly started out as, before it changed to a drama. What it did was to leave me with a different taste and some different thoughts about it. And if it is the last impressions that last it possibly can redeem a little of the movie. Unfortunately it is far too little far too late.3/10

I was supposed to see Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) but instead I saw this one - and I don't feel disappointed at all. I'm surprised and delighted.I really liked this movie, because it made me feel not only joy but pity and sympathy as well. It never was clear what would happen next though everything that happened then was somehow self-evident afterwards.The main actor Stellan Skarsgård deserves extra mention. He was very credible in his role and his minimalistic expressions created the basis of this hilarious comedy.I have to give 10 out of 10 because this one needs more recognition than it gets. Don't get me wrong, it's close to what I would have given anyways.

Felix is a hit-man who wants out of the business. He takes up a job to look after an reclusive man; he been in a room for 33 years. Bubba is like a giant kid, he doesn't understand people and doesn't know much, never seeing the outside world before. But Felix has bigger problems. He wants to patch up his relationship with his ex-girlfriend, and he's being targeted by his old colleagues; their not letting him get away so easily.Kiss Kiss (Bang Bang) is a good little dramatic comedy. The friendship between Felix and Bubba is very amusing and heart felt. What would have made this better if it had the hard hitting edge and malice dialog of great movies Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Sexy Beast. Instead of standing by itself, it takes it points from them and doesn't really crack any new ground. Though this does have some great laughs to bring; it shows the best way to sure smoking that is just hysterical. The acting was solid enough to keep you interested; it was interesting seeing Chris Penn play a different character than playing a 'tough guy' like he usually plays.This isn't anything new, but its still good entertainment.

Stellan Skarsgård plays Felix, a hitman who wants to retire, but the organization for which he works wants him to undergo a different kind of retirement. One day he walks away and being strapped for cash, he has to take a job "babysitting" a grown man who has been sheltered from the world.Chris Penn shows his talent for comedy (again) by playing Bubba, a childlike fellow who becomes attached to Felix because Felix "tells him things" and takes him out for a view of the "real world." Penn makes the character likeable...no small task because Bubba could have easily become an annoying cartoon.Lots of hilarious stuff, like the scene where Bubba gets ahold of the francs given to Skarsgard by his father and does something very unexpected. I laughed out loud a lot, said "awwwww" a lot and enjoyed myself thoroughly.Great flick.