 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
- Review Date: August 16, 2006
- R
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 2006
Common Sense Media says
Choppy L.A. thriller. Absolutely not for kids.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this movie contains explicit violence, nudity, swearing, and drug use. It's not appropriate for kids and teens.
What's the story?
Set in Los Angeles, KISS KISS BANG BANG centers on Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.), thief who inadvertently stumbles into a screen test and gets a role as a private detective. As research for the role, Gary spends time with a real P.I., Gay Perry (Val Kilmer). Things start to get out of hand for Harry and Perry when a mysterious client sets them up to witness some men dumping a body in a lake. And then there's the girl...Harmony Faith Lane (Michelle Monaghan). Harry's in love with her but hasn't seen her since they were kids. Harmony, Harry, and Perry are brought together by the deaths of two young girls, one of whom is Harmony's sister. Were both deaths murders or was one a suicide? What motive would anyone have to kill either one of the girls? And why do scary men with guns seem to turn up everywhere? These are the questions that move the film along its fast-paced storyline.
Is it any good?
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a fragmented and jumpy flick fraught with beautiful people, comic books, and violence. Robert Downey Jr. is fun to watch, but he plays the neurotic, caring Harry the way some people might play a dope fiend. His character can be touching and sincere, but at the same time, he doesn't seem real. As Gay Perry, Val Kilmer delivers crude, self-deprecating one-liners about being homosexual, which he seems to flaunt out of resentment. His character lacks the nuance necessary to make him believable. Harmony is the strongest and most interesting character in the movie, but we're given enough of her past to hold our interest, then her storyline falls apart into choppy confusion.
The film is entertaining at times but lacks something that would make it a great movie. It tries to be hip, but hip is more than snazzy lines told by flippant, sexy people who shoot each other. A little more substance and care, and this movie would have been much better.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about remaining true to one's convictions in difficult or out-of-the-ordinary situations. When, if ever, is the use of violence "okay?" Is it ever acceptable to tell lies or steal?
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- Teens & kids
Kid, 10 years old
November 10, 2009
AGE
@=)
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Teen, 15 years old
August 6, 2010
AGE
Perfect for older kids
I can't believe the rating on this! It definitely is appropriate for 15+ and is a great, witty action flick.
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Adult
July 22, 2009
AGE
Great Action Comedy.
I'm not sure why they say "No Kids" for this. It's less violent than many other "R" movies, probably comparable to "Tropic Thunder" or "Watchmen" and doesn't have a whole lot of language either. Even though a main character is gay, it doesn't play into the story at all and isn't really mentioned much. Overall, a hilarious movie and great action flick.
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Teen, 14 years old
September 29, 2009
AGE
Great for older teens and up!
Great action satire parody! The characters themselves frown apon the language they use and the violent acts they commit. A little much nudity, nothing graphic though.
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Teen, 15 years old
April 12, 2010
AGE
This movie is hilarious. Yes, there is some language and one of the characters is openly gay, but the story has endearing characters, witty dialogue, and some of the best acting I have seen in a while. The action duo of Robert Downey Jr and Val Kilmer is priceless. A movie that is often overlooked, it is definately in my top 5.
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Teen, 16 years old
November 22, 2011
AGE
Great for mature older teens.
This movie is a Rated R for a reason. There are many violent situations, shoot outs and corpses. I would say this movie is more bloody than gory though. There are also a few sexual situations containing nudity and innuendo. We see a few topless women engaging in sexual acts. One of the main characters is gay and kisses the other main character (a man) but it's mainly played for laughs. There are a few references to incest and sexual abuse. There is also abundant language through out the film. Many uses of strong words such as F-ck and some less stong words such as SH-t. There is also a party scene with many nude/almost nude women as 'entertainment' as well as a few gay references. I would suggest this movie for children 16 and up, but KNOW your child. You can discuss friendship and even sexuality and decision making with your child after watching. I personally enjoyed this movie a lot. I found it funny, suspenseful and heartwarming at the same time. Enjoy :D
-FilmFanatic
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Teen, 14 years old
May 23, 2010
AGE
Name Here: Double Entente
What is this movie? Well...it. Is. Pure. AWESOMENESS!!! I'm probably just in aftershock after seeing it. And I'll probably regret writing this, and most likely wind up deleting it, but hey! We'll see. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is not a BAD movie, but it is most CERTAINLY not a GOOD movie, either. With a good cast for the leading characters(Robert Downey Jr. & Val Kilmer) you can expect good acting. Also, you can expect a couple belly laughs and a lot of "Ha!"s, but what else is there to expect? Well, you can be sure to expect Language, some violence(not to brutal or graphic, thank goodness), and, worst of all, lots of nudity and sex. As I said in my review of The Butterfly Effect, I have a strong moral stance against nudity. And, to me, that is where this movie loses serious score points. But other than the nudity, it is a very good movie. Great cast, interesting story, funny moments, and even some VERY funny moments:
"You're an idiot!! Pick up a dictionary and look up the definition of the word 'idiot,' you know what you'll find?"
"A picture of me?"
"NO!! The definition of the word 'idiot!' Which is what you f*cking are!"
So, all-in-all I'll give it the rating...whatever I wanna rate it. Didn't really get the ending, though. Maybe, you have to see it twice...yay...that was a sarcastic 'yay' for those who didn't know.
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Teen, 14 years old
March 5, 2012
AGE
Very Funny and Thrilling
This is a really good action comedy. Lots of language and some sexuality and violence. Nudity. Very good, teens can handle it
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Teen, 15 years old
April 28, 2012
AGE
Great, but know your kid
It was a great movie. I watched it when I was 11...it honestly didn't have that bad of content. Then again, I am very mature for my age.
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| Studio: | Warner Home Video |
| Director: | Shane Black |
| Cast: | Corbin Bernsen, Michelle Monaghan, Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 103 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | May 18, 2006 |
| DVD release date: | June 13, 2006 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | language, violence, sexuality/nudity |
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