Shane Black’s (writer of THE LAST BOY SCOUT and LETHAL WEAPON 2) feature directorial debut is a smart-***censored*** but enjoyable flick based on paperback gumshoes stuck in a puzzling case.  The dick here is Gay Perry (Val Kilmer) who also happens to be gay by nature.  All the action begins at an L.A. party where the audience is informed how Gay, Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.) and a doll by the name of Harmony (Michelle Monaghan) got to get invited in the first place. Though the story takes place in 4 days (with titles to go along with them), anything can happen and occasionally does. 

Director Shane is fond of playing with filming techniques like voice-over and frames.  Fortunately, in films of this type, it works well to the feel and setting of the plot.  Downey Jr. and Kilmer make a good bickering pair.  This is no bad cop good cop movie, but gay and New Yorker cop movie.  And quite an entertaining one at that!