I was hesitant to see “Tropic Thunder” when I heard that Ben Stiller was not only starring in it, but was also the director and the writer. Over the years, the only funny movies Stiller have been in our “Meet the Parents” and “There’s Something About Mary”. In all his other movies, Stiller pretty much plays the same one dimensional character who has the same punch lines and facial expressions. In Tropic Thunder, Stiller does more of the same. So, why, if Stiller does more of the same here and even dares to director and writer would I give, “Tropic Thunder“, a good review, two reasons, Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Cruise.

In “Tropic Thunder” Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller), Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black), Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.) and Alpa Chino (Brandon T. Jackson) are actors who are trying to film a big budget Vietnam war movie written by Four Leaf Tayback (Nick Nolte). The director Damien Cockburn (Steve Coogan), gets angry when a very expensive scenes doesn’t go well because of the actors diva like attitude. Damien is further degraded by studio head Les Grossman (Tom Cruise)
and with the advice of Four Leaf decides to shoot the movie guerilla style. Damien leads his actors into the jungle, but ends up dying after stepping in a real landmine. The actors think that it is just a special effect for the movie and proceed, with their prop guns to the next scene: a forceful engagement with a group of drug trafficking guerrillas who happen to have real guns and ammo.

Robert Downey Jr. pretty much steals the movie. Robert who is white plays an African American who sort of has an identity crisis. Even when he knows they aren’t shooting the movie any longer, he remains in character. Robert’s performance is hilarious. Another scene stealer is Tom Cruise. I’ll probably see the movie again just to see his performance. You’ve never seen Cruise play this type of character. I didn’t know he had it in him.

The low parts of the movie are Stiller and Black, which is odd since they are comedians. Black is decent, but Stiller is horrendous doing pretty much what he always does. However, he does deserve some credit for writing what could be the best comedy so far this year. Matthew McConaughey who plays Tugg Speedman’s agent is hilarious. His whole mission is to get Speedman a TIVO and it pays off at the end.

Review By Milton Brayson
milton@smartcine.com

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