Underwhelming Satire has a few laughs.

Rating: 6/10 (15 August 2008)

Ben Stiller's long-gestating comedic satire that takes a look behind the scenes of a big-budget Hollywood war film doesn't quite hit the mark like his two previous directing efforts, "Reality Bites" and "Zoolander". Obviously leaning more towards the wackiness of the later, "Tropic Thunder", does have a few decent laughs but is overall uneven. Standing out are Robert Downey Jr's trumped up controversial turn as an extreme method actor who undergoes a pigment-altering surgery in order to play a part written for a black actor is solid, while supporting players Jay Baruchel and Brandon T. Jackson offer several laughs as well. Tom Cruise and Matthew McConaughey have cameos that fall flat, despite the buzz they have been receiving. Meanwhile given comedic actors like Steve Coogan and Danny McBride don't get nearly enough screen time. As far as Summer comedies go, it's alright. Beats the hell out "Disaster Movie" or whatever damnation to come from that crew comes next.