Tropic Thunder was the comedy hit of the summer...

Rating: 7/10 (21 January 2009)

Tropic Thunder was the comedy hit of the summer of '08 with it's well known stars in Ben Stiller, Jack Black, and Robert Downey Jr. leading a very good cast, both in quantity and quality. The story is funny in itself as a bunch of spoiled and soft superstar actors come together to make a war movie. As filming goes on, however, what once were fake special effects and stunts become very real very fast. Ben Stiller and Jack Black are funny as always but the standout performances come from Robert Downey Jr. who plays a white Australian preppy playing a black American soldier and Nick Nolte who acts as the beaten and battered Vietnam War vet movie consultant with hooks for hands. Special effects, makeup, and costumes are on par with what you would expect from a decent war action movie. Although this film was a bit overrated at the time of release, it is an entertaining watch if you can get past some unnecessarily disturbing images and language.