Brilliant intelligent comedy, layers of parody on parody, a true classic

Rating: 10/10 (8 February 2010)

So there's a parody of a rapper, who represents black culture and commercialism, who also has a secret: another parody. Four parodies in one character, and that's just one of the minor characters of Tropic Thunder.
Not only is it a parody of exploitation of the Vietnam War for movie-making, it's a parody on Hollywood in general, from drugged-up comics to overly earnest action stars trying to get respected, to what's clearly a parody of Russell Crowe but also black stereotypes.
I can't really explain it. You just have to see this film!
The film sits in that sweet spot where it is neither so crazy that you fall out of your suspension of disbelief and don't care what happens (The Mask comes to mind), nor so risk-averse that it's boring (the recent The Spy Next Door). And you'll never predict what's coming next.
On top of this, brilliant performances, especially by Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Cruise.
It's enough of an upper to pull you out of the black depression you get when you've just seen The Deer Hunter.
I'll give Tropic Thunder a Star Wars style *classic* 10 out of 10, not something I do lightly or often.