Action movie satire that will be loved by fans of cast and spoofs in general.

Rating: 3/10 (24 March 2011)

But not me!
Ben Stiller directs, stars and co-writes this spoof action movie that sees actors making an army jungle movie forced to rely on their acting skills to survive a real life jungle hell: The kicker being that they don't realise they are fighting for their lives. Joining Stiller in the cast are Robert Downey Junior, Jack Black, Brandon T. Jackson, Jay Baruchel, Nick Nolte, Steve Coogan, Matthew McConaughey and Tom Cruise.
Making a decent profit at the box office and garnering more critical praise than not, Tropic Thunder has more than proved its worth and reason for being made. However, that's not to say it's universally a good film, because it isn't. Comedy is naturally objective, so shall it be with the spoof or parody movie, for every Airplane or High Anxiety there is a Scary Movie 4 or Epic Movie. Evidently Tropic Thunder has etched itself into the hall of fame of great spoof pictures, something which baffles this particular viewer. In fact I would go so far as to say that without Cruise's brilliant comedy performance (yes you read it right) this would/should be bargain basement fodder. A shame since I like almost everyone involved in the film. It's just that to me the joke wears thin after the first quarter, the characters become annoying (particularly Downey Jr.) and Stiller and his team have to resort to "Retard" and "Drug" jokes to fill out the running time. Neither of which were funny in the first place.
Power to you if you had to hold your sides in when watching this, and fair enough if you are mostly forgiving towards Black and Downey Jr. because you be fans of theirs. But no, not for me my dears, I had more fun the last time I blew my nose. 3/10 for the Cruiser's efforts.