Tropic Thunder (2008) **

Rating: 5/10 (13 January 2009)

A supposed comedy where a group of actors (Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black) set out to make the ultimate Vietnam movie, but are confronted with unforeseen circumstances that turn out to be all too real. Sorry, I just thought this would be A LOT funnier. I like Ben Stiller, and I thought the odd idea of casting Robert Downey Jr. as a black man would make for some humorous situations. Well, Downey doesn't really play a black man, he's playing a white actor playing a black man, and he doesn't have a lot of funny lines. And Jack Black ... I don't like the guy, period. This was just a pretty average movie all around, it left little impression on me. I would say the only times I got a slight chuckle out of it were during the bits with Stiller playing the fictional retarded character, and even Tom Cruise's guesting bit as a bald ball-buster was more inspired than anything else... though it was obvious that Cruise was "just playing a part" and didn't really come off as authentic. ** out of ****