Lightning Unfortunately Never Really Strikes.

Rating: Null/10 (16 September 2008)

An out of control parody of war films such as "Apocalypse Now" and "Platoon" which also makes fun of contemporary Hollywood and everything within it. "Tropic Thunder" starts off high flying and dominant, but then fizzles quickly when it actually gets to the heart of its story. Actors Ben Stiller (also co-writer/director), Robert Downey, Jr., Jack Black, and others get thrown together in a would-be epic Vietnam flick, but their prima-donna ways lead to issues abound for their first time British director (Steve Coogan), their war veteran screenwriter (Nick Nolte), and a crazed movie mogul (an almost unrecognizable Tom Cruise as he is totally unbound) who funds the entire production. Thus the actors get thrown into an East Asian hotbed of international heroin production where the enemy has the tale-tell signs of 1970s Vietnam. Another one of those big budget summer would-be blockbusters which shows all its good points in the movie spots and cinematic trailers. The movie ends up being a long and tiring exercise accentuated by foul-mouthed characters and chaotic set pieces. Downey, Jr.'s transformation into an African-American is weird to say the least and Black's hidden narcotic addiction is supposed to be a funny side-story which ends up being annoying and completely unwanted. Just think "The Three Amigos" for the 2000s group who crave constant adult situations and mediocre outcomes. 2.5 out of 5 stars.