Despite controversy, "Tropic Thunder" is hilarious
8:36 a.m. Monday, August 18, 2008
"Tropic Thunder" tells the story of four pampered actors: Tug Speedman, played by the film's director Ben Stiller; Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.), an Oscar-winning actor who undergoes an experimental pigmentation surgery to play a black solider; a Belushi-esqe party boy Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black) and a rapper-turned-actor who goes by the name "Alpa Chino" (Branden T. Jackson). These diva-like actors are accustomed to having everyone pamper their egos and put up with their outrageous behavior because of their financial successes or award-winning performances.
All of these egos come together on the set of a big-budget Vietnam War-era film that is woefully behind schedule and costing the studio millions each day the work doesn't get accomplished. The actors refuse to listen to the frustrated director played by Steve Coogan whose career is on the line and who has lost complete control of the movie. If the problems aren't solved, the producers threaten to shut the film down.
Drastic times call for drastic measures and the director is approached by the author of "Tropic Thunder," the book on which the movie is based, who has some extreme ideas about how to get the film back on track. Four Leaf Tayback (Nick Nolte) is a grizzled Vietnam veteran who suggests the director place cameras throughout the jungle to film as the prima-donna actors are dropped into the middle of what they think is a real movie set. The actors, the director, Four Leaf and an extreme movie explosives specialist Cody (Danny McBride) make their way into the middle of the jungle.
An "accident" leaves the actors unknowingly in real danger as they face a band of violent drug runners while remaining in character. Soon their egos clash, and revelations along the way show they are not who you think they are. Some of the funniest film moments of the year take place during this portion of the film.
"Tropic Thunder" has been getting its fair share of bad press due to some of its content that has angered groups now calling for a ban on the film. Some are afraid the portrayal and the language will give audiences the wrong idea about people with mental disabilities due to a character, Simple Jack, once played by Speedman. If you don't agree with the content of the film, simply don't see it. Although I can see why they are offended, cutting scenes or banning the movie is a form of censorship and wrong.
The movie is funny, and Stiller seems to be getting his film career back on track. Stiller, who directed the film and co-wrote the script with Ethan Coen, has created a parody of Hollywood on-set stories, somewhat exaggerated, but probably with more accuracy than many would admit. His directing here is solid, his performance, hilarious, and the script is well-written.
The extremely talented Downey Jr. -- who with the success of "Iron Man" earlier this summer, is experiencing one of the greatest big-screen comebacks in history -- is funny throughout this film in a completely outrageous role that he seems to be having a blast playing. Downey Jr. has been for quite some time one of the best actors working in the business, and it is nice to see him garnering so much publicity for his work rather than for his self-destructive personal past.
Black is excellent in a role that gives audiences the comedic over-the-top performance from him they love. Black has some of the real highlights of the movie as his drug-loving character is tied to a tree at his request so he can get the narcotics out of his system.
I laughed hard and often at "Tropic Thunder," and while I don't think in any way this will be held up as a classic comedy, it is very funny and all the actors involved were terrific. This is a fantastic, exaggerated portrayal of the way actors are pampered and how their behavior is tolerated because of who they are. "Tropic Thunder" is a fun, well-made comedy. While it is raunchy, and to some offensive, it is only a movie!
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