Day of the 'Dog: "The Long Kiss Goodnight"

This week's underdog puts the A in action - and you've likely never even heard of it. While flicks like Die Hard and The Bourne Identity have earned their fame, if we look to the number of IMDb reviews as a litmus test for movie views, The Long Kiss Goodnight only registers 25% of Bourne's feedback and a paltry 16% of Die Hard's.

Starring Gina Davis and Samuel L. Jackson, and packing as many solid laughs as it does tight and well-crafted action sequences, it's hard to tell what made this one go relatively unnoticed by moviegoers at large. It could be that action/comedies are often breezed over at the video store for fear of the scenes coming out too cheesy to pass as action, but too busy to be comedies.

I would still call Kiss an action flick - hands down - but it is laden with comedy to be sure.

The first time I saw it was during a double date of beer and pizza where - much to my date's chagrin - I became more engaged in the movie than in her. Had my friend not taken a chance on it, I might never have come across this action gem.

Why it deserves dog status: Few action movies are really well rounded. Some end up sliding into sub-genres of spy vs spy, super cops, or A-Team action (you know, where nobody dies despite massive explosions and a rain of gunfire so that it can get a PG-13 rating). Kiss is extremely well-rounded, with hope and despair, underdogs, and larger-than-life heroes (a la Davis' alter-ego Charly). The dialogue is very witty, with quips you'll have to see the movie a couple of times to fully appreciate.

The replay value is quite high, as well: I've owned the VHS and then - when my VCR followed the Betamax to the bottom of the ocean - I bought the DVD without hesitation. I know that at least once a year I'll be watching Kiss again, and still feeling my pulse race at the action, and laughing out loud at the comedy.

The likability of the characters and the awesome chemistry between Davis and Jackson make Kiss a memorable ride through spy games, shootouts, and narrow escapes that's sure to please.