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-eared 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, and faster than you can say Jack Robinson, the producer flies him to Los Angeles for a screen test. Thrust into the cutthroat world of L.A.'s pros, cons, losers and wannabes, Harry 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.

Why are you going to like this movie, because it’s smart, its witty and its one of those movies that just has some of the most memorable quotes that you find yourself saying over and over. This is the kind of movie that the eighth time you find yourself watching you are still catching things you missed the first seven times you saw the movie. The movie is full of those little witticisms and catch phrases that make the movie so enjoyable that you find yourself watching the movie over and over again. The film doesn’t pull any punches, it is aware at times that it’s chock full of clichés and crazy ridiculous situations that would never happen but the movie has the smarts to make fun of these problems that would be flaws in other movies. C’mon the movie is narrated over like it was some crime serial movie from the 1940’s and that’s in charm. The movie is like and old crime book that you loved as a kid and despite the heroes getting into the same situations every single book you couldn’t help but be fond of the books. The movie even uses that as a backdrop to its story and drops hints and clues for you like you were eleven years old still trying to figure out who done it. The movie is fun, entertaining, well written and worth the eight viewings it will take you to catch all its clues.

How can you not love the cast as Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer are the perfect odd couple that feed off each other’s energy. Val Kilmer has always been one of my more favorite actors as he has a way of delivering a line with wit that reminds you of that smart assed friend you had in high school. He always has those one liners that make you want to smack him and laugh all at the same time. And Robert Downey Jr, has always been a good actor that could never get away from his off screen troubles for more people to realize it. He’s almost more famous for his off screen antics than his on screen ones but when he shows up on set you almost always get a great performance. He has the slick, smooth talking and somewhat nervous persona that fits his character perfectly. Its not a stretch to see him as this bumbling small time crook trying to make it big and just stay alive for that matter at times. Michelle Monaghan is somewhat of a newcomer and while she held her own I really didn’t see enough of her to draw any real conclusions as this was Downey Jr. and Kilmer’s movie. I was entertained and couldn’t help but try and solve all the movies little clues and hints like you will too.

Grade: B+