It’s a chef thing.
Christmas may be the backdrop for this 1996 action-thriller but make no mistake—The Long Kiss Goodnight is just as interested in explosions, espionage, and razor-sharp one-liners as carolling and candy canes. Directed by Renny Harlin and written by – who else? – Shane Black, this underrated gem blends the festive season with a high-octane story of spies versus spies.
Geena Davis stars as Samantha Caine, a suburban schoolteacher with amnesia and an idyllic small-town life. But when a car accident triggers flashes of her forgotten past, Samantha slowly starts to rediscover her previous life as Charly Baltimore, a deadly CIA operative. Teaming up with low-life private investigator Mitch Henessey (Samuel L Jackson), she embarks on a journey to uncover her true identity, which puts her firmly on the radar of a black ops intelligence agency who’ll do anything to prevent Charly’s Christmas wishes coming true.
Davis is electric in the lead role, effortlessly shifting between Samantha’s maternal warmth and Charly’s ice-cold efficiency. Her transformation is as compelling as it is badass, showcasing a side of Davis rarely seen in her earlier roles and paving the way – a little too early for audiences at the time to embrace, unfortunately – for action heroines like Charlize Theron, Uma Thurman, and Angelina Jolie in the years to follow. Jackson, meanwhile, is in peak form as the wisecracking, street-smart Mitch, providing much of the film’s humour while holding his own in the action sequences. The odd couple share a chemistry that crackles with energy, elevating the film beyond its formulaic mismatch buddy cop genre conventions.
Shane Black’s signature blend of sharp dialogue and holiday spirit is on full display, infusing the film with a playful, self-aware edge. The script balances its darker elements—assassinations, betrayals, and brutal fights—with a biting wit that keeps the story from feeling too heavy. Harlin’s direction, meanwhile, ensures the action sequences are as explosive as they are inventive. From a high-speed car chase on icy roads to a fiery showdown in a helicopter, the set pieces are pure adrenaline-fuelled spectacle.
The obligatory Shane Black Christmas setting may seem like window dressing at first, but it deftly adds a layer of ironic contrast between the season’s joy and the carnage unfolding on-screen. Black’s knack for juxtaposing holiday warmth with sporadic violence creates a unique tone that’s both thrilling and darkly amusing. Whether it’s Charly dispatching enemies with ruthless precision or Mitch delivering exasperated quips in the middle of a firefight, The Long Kiss Goodnight embraces its over-the-top nature with festive glee.
It does occasionally struggle with its pacing, where The Long Kiss Goodnight feels a little too long for its own good. The first act takes its time establishing Samantha’s idyllic life, which makes the later reveals all the more impactful but might test the patience of action-hungry viewers and some of the villains, while suitably menacing, lack the depth to feel truly memorable. Die Hard succeeds not just because of Bruce Willis’ megawatt everyman likeability but also because of Alan Rickman’s superbly nuanced and well-rounded Hans Gruber. The Long Kiss Goodnight has likeable protagonists but doesn’t give Craig Bierko or the legendary Brian Cox quite enough to work with to reach Gruber-level villainy.
Despite these minor flaws, The Long Kiss Goodnight remains a wildly entertaining ride that deserves its status as a cult christmas classic. It’s a film that combines the best of ’90s action cinema with a festive flair, anchored by stellar performances from Davis and Jackson. For those who like their Christmas movies with a high body count, this is one gift that keeps on giving.
