I know people love it, but frankly I think its overrated

Rating: 5/10 (1 October 2008)

Halfway through, this movie is really funny. It makes fun of the antics and empty morals of big budget Hollywood films in a really witty, even if exaggerated, way. The extremely self-centered, shallow and just hilariously clueless actors, which are well-delivered by the cast, make you laugh constantly. I specially love Robert Downey Jr. playing the actor trying to play a black man through hilarious racial stereotyping.
Towards the end however, the film itself resorts to using exactly the same devices it has been making fun of throughout. The characters suddenly become all-American action heroes who band together to defeat the evil Asian drug-smuggler, while toting guns and tossing tired one-liners (sigh). Even though it seems like this is done on purpose by the makers in order to further the satire of the film, it takes the whole experience down several degrees and makes it boring to follow.
At the end even the caricature of the heartless, abusive film-executive Len Grossman suddenly becomes an OK fella with a big pat on the back. I guess they just can't help themselves...
After thoroughly enjoying two-thirds I felt disappointed in the lame events that close the film.