Very funny although it may offend some

Rating: 9/10 (6 May 2010)

When I got this I wasn't sure what to expect, I only bought it because it was very cheap. I'm glad I did get it though as it was hilarious. I was a little unsure at the start when the characters were introduced by showing trailers for the characters previous films although in retrospect it did serve to quickly introduce them and let us know the sort of performers each of them were; Ben Stiller is a Hollywood leading man who has fallen out of favour after a string of superhero sequels, Jack Black is known for films where he dons a fat suit and plays an entire family and Robert Downey Jnr. is a method actor who is willing to go further than most to get into the character he is playing.
When the film proper starts we find the characters playing parts in a big budget Vietnam war movie directed by Steve Coogan; unfortunately he blows that budget on a pyrotechnic spectacular which he didn't even catch on film. Threatened with having the project shut down he decides to turn it into a low budget more realistic film shot on hand held video and cameras hidden in the jungle. To this end he takes the cast into the jungle and explains to them what he expects them to do. He then treads on a old land mine and is blown to bits. Most of his cast think this was just a special effect and to Stiller even laughs and plays with his head thinking it is a fake. As they go off to make their film they don't realise that area of jungle is run by a drug dealer's private army. So sure is Stiller that everything is part of the movie he doesn't realise what is going on even when he is captured and they start to torture him.
This film was littered with hilarious moments although some may offend some viewers. Of the main cast Robert Downey Jnr. stands out as an actor who went so far as to get his skin darkened so he could play a black man... much to the understandable annoyance of a real black actor who thought blacking up had ended years ago. It was a pity that Steve Coogan's character got killed off so soon as he was very funny. Tom Cruise was also impressive as the producer, he was almost unrecognisable in a bald wig and heavy make up. Talking of make up credit must go to that department for the work the did on Tom Cruise and Robert Downey Jnr. as neither looked like themselves. The film is obviously full of clichés but that is all part of the kind of films they are spoofing. Over all I thought it was a very funny film which got close to going too far and causing offence without quite doing so, although different people will have different views on that.