Ìý User Rating 
A disappointing flop on its release, "The Long Good Kiss Goodnight" would possibly fare better if released today. The female action hero is finally box office gold, with Zhang Ziyi in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", and the assorted kung fu babes of "Charlie's Angels". Back in 1996 there was plenty of media debate as to whether Geena Davis could carry an action blockbuster, and if this was to be the start of a new trend. As it turns out, "The Long Kiss Goodnight" was ahead of its time, and remains one of the best action films of the 90s.
The talent involved in this film spelled potential box office dynamite. Renny Harlin signed up as director with "Cliffhanger" and "Die Hard 2" under his belt. And Shane Black took care of the script having also provided the story for both "Lethal Weapon" and its sequel. This effort turned out to be a lot more like his screenplay for "The Last Boy Scout". While viciously funny it was also unflinching in violence, crudity, and implausibility. Harlin picked up on all these elements and magnified them many times over in an outrageous orgy of action.
The brief plotline sees Geena Davis living an idyllic lifestyle as a teacher in a romantic town, unaware of her past as a trained assassin. The amnesia starts to lift once a psychopath tries to kill her, resulting in his very violent death. Desperate to find out the past she hooks up with two-bob private dick Samuel L Jackson, and from then on the movie enters maelstrom mode.
The dialogue between Jackson and Davis is acidic and highly amusing. Jackson sends himself up at every moment, knowing that as he becomes more ridiculous he still can't help being cool. His golf clothes are testament to that. And Davis tackles her stunts with a toughness that's highly impressive in an action-comedy-thriller that has it all.
"The Long Kiss Goodnight" is on Channel 5 at 9pm, Tuesday 13th February 2001.
