Ben Stiller biting the hand that feeds him, yet again

Rating: 7/10 (9 March 2009)

Although, this is quite amusing and very well made, I can't say that I laughed that much. Ben Stiller shows that he knows show business very well which is pretty obvious since basically everybody in his family are in it. It's just hard to figure out what his aim is. Does he think that method actors go overboard? Does he think that it is the industry or is he just putting everybody on saying he think everything he does is not to be taken seriously? As a straight forward action-comedy the movie sort of works. The actors all do great, especially Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black. Like Ben Stiller, Jack Black can go totally overboard with cynical characters but here he is actually funny as a bumbling stooge. Robert Downey Jr. once again shows that he is a man willing to do anything for his craft (sort of ironic considering the subject matter). By mocking himself he is pretty much telling us that he's a good sport and who doesn't like that.
A whole other matter is the portrayal of the Asians. It's pretty clear that we are a pretty easy target. What can you say? It's pretty much what you would expect. If I actually saw an intelligent portrayal of a single Asian person in a Hollywood blockbuster I would be surprised. I guess it wouldn't be funny.
Of course, this is entertainment. Not to be taken seriously but then as I started by saying, what is the point.