So a while back Jesse got the idea for the Movie Night Project, which as I understand it was basically arguing that just because you're in the mood for something lighter than say, Terence Malick's "The New World" doesn't mean you have to settle for crap.  He issued these guidelines for qualifying:

- Under 105 minutes long
- A "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes
- Domestic gross of under $50 million

Also no major awards.  As it turns out, that's a pretty tough task, but after having it percolate through my mind for however many months it's been since the one and only recommendation, I came up with one.

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, the 2005 black comedy starring two (at the time) washed up actors: Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr.  It got a criminally small release ($4.5 million gross), but was extremely well reviewed (83% on Rotten Tomatoes).  It's also hilarious.

Downey plays a small-time crook who, in the midst of robbing a toy store on Christmas Eve, ducks into a basement to avoid the police.  The basement happens to be currently running a casting call for an actor to play a small-time crook.  Soon enough, he's whisked away to LA, and is quickly foisted off on a real PI, 'Gay Perry' (Kilmer) to give him 'experience'.  Shenanigans ensue as they wind up in the midst of their own personal noir.

Why is it perfect for Movie Night?  It's a movie just about anyone can enjoy.  It doesn't require the viewer to know anything about noir to enjoy (unlike say, 'Brick'), and while it's immensely clever and creative, there's a fair dose of lowest common denominator humor as well.  Also, Robert Downey Jr. is now a selling point, freshly off several hilarious roles in big movies. 

On a different note, I'm actually interested in seeing "The New World", but there are now three seperate cuts of it.  Anyone have opinions on which one I should check out?