Full metal platoon apocalypse on the river Kwai

Rating: 6/10 (31 August 2009)

From the previews, I expected something much funnier but it's funny enough in certain places. From the fake trailers to the big action opening sequence, it opens up with a bang only to dip down not along after the actors enter the real jungle. Call me sick but I liked the gross-out humour parts reminding me of Monty Python sometimes. I also liked the constant profanity. The best acting and funniest bits probably come from Tom Cruise disguised as an unrecognizable foul-mouthed movie producer. Robert Downey Jr playing the black sergeant manages to do quite well and is probably the coolest character so I doubt he'll offend black people even though he's white. The interactions between him and the real black guy could have been stronger and funnier though.
Ben Stiller has some funny bits but the whole retarded Simple Jack routine wears thin really fast. Jack Black is the weakest link providing much manic energy but very little in terms of acting skill or actually funny comedy. He's the most caricatural one-dimensional and annoying of the bunch. I'm not a huge fan of war movies but even I caught a few references so war movie buffs should have a ball. So in the end, Tropic Thunder was hit and miss for me. Comedies making fun of war and primadonna self-involved actors are few and far between so if those subjects appeal to you, then a rental is worthwhile.
Rating: 6 out of 10