Silly, stupid and yet fits together for a hilarious ride of a bunch of guys having fun and making fun of themselves and their craft

Rating: 8/10 (1 September 2008)

Why does Tropic Thunder work? Well I think first and foremost it just happens to be blind luck that the chemistry between the actors seems amazing and the wealth of cameos that all seem to just let loose and have a wild and hilarious time certainly helps. The comedy is raunchy, four letter words are everywhere, and the silly slapstick moments are mostly satirical in nature and completely poking fun at movies, their own characters and themselves in a sense and it happens to work out with a very stupid story. In fact the entire story, co-penned by Stiller is very weak. I mean it exists only to vehicle all these crazy characters and moments. It was like the star studded cast got together first, created characters and then built a story around them. It's only fortunate that the cast drives the film and makes it very watchable. I don't like Stiller usually but he is a talented comedian and writer and everything just fits into place. This movie probably has more explosions and gunfire than most summer action blockbusters and yet it was all done in farce.
Ben Stiller co-stars as action super star Tugg Speedman who is on the down side of his career. Stiller fits in well and I even think he toned down his over the top comedic performance in order to let the other actors stand out. He is good as Speedman and funny in a more subtle way than his usual characters. Robert Downey Jr. proves his comedic talent as the serious award winning actor Kirk Lazarus who actually changes his skin color to become African American for the war film. Some reviewers are calling his performance racist but they are of course missing the entire point of satire. I won't get into that right now but Downey Jr. gives an awesome performance as the actor trying to be as black as he can be much to the chagrin of his real African American co-star. Brandon T. Jackson plays that co-star, rapper turned actor Alpa Chino...get it? Jackson is terrific and really balances out Downey Jr.'s potentially offensive performance by being a strong black character who always gives him the intelligent answer. Their banter together is classic and proof of how intelligent a satire this actually is. Jack Black plays drug addicted comedian playing serious Jeff Portnoy. His entire performance focuses on completely poking fun at himself and the comedy world in general in Hollywood. His role is dumb, and ridiculous, and insulting to himself and therefore works perfectly in the cast. He is awesome in the role. Jay Baruchel is good as the straight man to the other three's performances. He kind of gets buried in the crazy performances because his is much more subtle. So this is your main cast, now let's talk about the heart and soul of this picture...the cameos which are all fair sized for cameo roles. Matthew McConaughey is terrific as a stunned a little bit sleazy agent to Stiller's character. McConaughey always lights up the big screen and his cameo is no exception. Nick Nolte does a decent job as Four Leaf Tayback, the veteran whose life the film they are making is based on. Nolte kind of flounders in the film and doesn't really find his place amongst the cast and he doesn't really fit into the satire aspect. Tyra Banks, Jon Voight, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jason Bateman, Lance Bass, Alicia Silverstone, Mickey Rooney, Kathy Hilton, Tobey Maguire (very funny mock trailer with him and Downey Jr. as gay Priests), and finally we come to the true highlight of Tropic Thunder...Mr. Tom Cruise. I really do love Tom Cruise as an actor. He is powerful and very talented and he proved it hilariously as loud and foul mouth film executive Les Grossman. When he turns on "Low" and starts gyrating with his bald head and slightly portly belly and loads of body hair I was completely awe struck and laughing hysterically. He was awesome. I would watch this film again just for his role. Also worthy of a mention is newcomer youngster Brandon Soo Hoo who plays the leader of the enemy drug dealers...yes this little boy plays a very ominous and disturbing killer and leader. He is truly awesome and likely has a long career ahead of him. Stiller would be a fool not to cast him again in future films.
Tropic Thunder is getting a lot of flack of course, the same flack many films got this summer for inappropriate content in our post 911 world where feelings get hurt when a toe is stubbed. Yes Tropic Thunder is inappropriate...just as much as National Lampoons was back when they were good, or Naked Gun movies, or Airplane, or any other satirical comedies only Tropic Thunder tried to pretend to be serious and not make outright statements. The politically correct crowd wouldn't see this movie anyways and for anyone with a brain if you look hard enough you will find the satire in the film. Yes unfortunately the word "retard" is tossed around a lot because Stiller offensively portrayed a Handicapped character in a movie that bombed within this movie but when you look at it from a satirical perspective Stiller's character isn't exactly a genius. Most of the main characters in the film are kind asses...so them using that word or Downey Jr.'s character becoming black and then playing it stereotypically is supposed to make you go...wow those guys are ignorant and kind of stupid. Don't get your undies in a bunch until you think about the movie a little...no matter how stupid it is. That being said Tropic Thunder actually turns out to be secretly smarter than it looks and is a good time, with a great cast, all made worthwhile by an incredible performance by Tom Cruise. Check it out for a good time!! 8.5/10