'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang'

Already on the big screen in several major cities, this explosive comedy from first-time director Shane Black, the creator of the "Lethal Weapon" series, rolls out nationally Nov. 11. There certainly are similarities to his previous buddy hijinks with Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, but modern action movies aren't so much about form. What matters are the stunts and the gags.

Warner Bros. says of "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang":

Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.) is basically a decent guy. Sure, he's a petty thief who skates through life on a shaky cocktail of dog-earred charm and cockeyed optimism, but he wants to do the right thing. He just doesn't know how, exactly.

Harry's perpetual bad luck takes a turn for the better when he and his partner are doing some after-hours Christmas "shopping" at a New York City toy store and the security alarm breaks up the party. ... In making his frantic getaway from the cops, Harry inadvertently stumbles into an audition for a Hollywood detective movie....

The producer flies him to Los Angeles for a screen test ... [where he] is teamed with tough-guy private eye Perry van Shrike (Val Kilmer), AKA "Gay Perry," to prepare him for his screen test. Gay Perry is ruthless, relentlessly tough and -- you guessed it -- gay. He also has little patience for Harry, who tries out his acting skills by passing himself off as a detective.

At the official movie site, watch the "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" trailer and browse through a photo gallery. Production notes and desktop wallpapers are also displayed.

Go: "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang"