All I can say is that this movie is quite possibly one of the funniest comedies I've seen in a long time. I was on the floor, in tears, laughing for most of the film. In fact, it was so funny that I even went and listened to the commentary after I was done watching it. Yes...it's that good.
The plot of Tropic Thunder pokes fun at some of the best and brightest of Hollywood land. Three spoiled, narcissistic actors are hired to do a movie based on Vietnam veteran "Four Leaf" Tayback's (Nick Nolte) best-selling memoir. Unfortunatly, they are so caught up within themselves that they set back prodution a whole month only five days into shooting. So in an attempt to "make men out of them," director Damien Cockburn (Steve Coogan) teams with Four Leaf and special-effects master/pyromaniac Cody (Danny McBride) to formulate a plot. They decide to dump the actors in the middle of the Vietnamese jungle, leave them with nothing but their costumes, props, and scripts, and let them wander around all whilst being filmed with hidden cameras in trees and shrubberies and the like. When the plans go awry, the actors figure out that, not only are they stuck in the jungle, but that they are also stuck with each other. What results is 90 minutes of pure comedic gold.
Normally, I'm not a big fan of comedies like this. Yeah, Ben Stiller's funny but sometimes it's just a little too much. But this...oh, man...this was a masterpiece. Part of it has to do with the fantastic casting. Stiller, Black, and Downey Jr. have the best comedic chemistry that I've seen in a while. Each character has their own unique and equally gut-busting problems. Jack Black play Jeff Portnoy, the funniest man in Hollywood and also the biggest drug-addict. The entire film, we witness him going through withdrawals-- which shouldn't be funny, but dammit it is! Ben Stiller is Tugg Speedman, the iconic action star who can't really act. His struggle throughout the film is with his own self-worth, and no matter what the jungle throws at him, he's dead set on finishing the film. Finally, Robert Downey Jr. plays Kirk Lazarus-- a five-time Oscar winning Australian method actor who gets so deep into character that he loses himself. For Tropic Thunder, Lazarus underwent a skin pigmentation surgery to look like his black character, Lincoln Osiris. The entire film he doesn't break character-- a jive-talking, black man, from God-Knows-Where. This causes a lot of frustration amongst the fellow actors.
The plot of Tropic Thunder pokes fun at some of the best and brightest of Hollywood land. Three spoiled, narcissistic actors are hired to do a movie based on Vietnam veteran "Four Leaf" Tayback's (Nick Nolte) best-selling memoir. Unfortunatly, they are so caught up within themselves that they set back prodution a whole month only five days into shooting. So in an attempt to "make men out of them," director Damien Cockburn (Steve Coogan) teams with Four Leaf and special-effects master/pyromaniac Cody (Danny McBride) to formulate a plot. They decide to dump the actors in the middle of the Vietnamese jungle, leave them with nothing but their costumes, props, and scripts, and let them wander around all whilst being filmed with hidden cameras in trees and shrubberies and the like. When the plans go awry, the actors figure out that, not only are they stuck in the jungle, but that they are also stuck with each other. What results is 90 minutes of pure comedic gold.
Normally, I'm not a big fan of comedies like this. Yeah, Ben Stiller's funny but sometimes it's just a little too much. But this...oh, man...this was a masterpiece. Part of it has to do with the fantastic casting. Stiller, Black, and Downey Jr. have the best comedic chemistry that I've seen in a while. Each character has their own unique and equally gut-busting problems. Jack Black play Jeff Portnoy, the funniest man in Hollywood and also the biggest drug-addict. The entire film, we witness him going through withdrawals-- which shouldn't be funny, but dammit it is! Ben Stiller is Tugg Speedman, the iconic action star who can't really act. His struggle throughout the film is with his own self-worth, and no matter what the jungle throws at him, he's dead set on finishing the film. Finally, Robert Downey Jr. plays Kirk Lazarus-- a five-time Oscar winning Australian method actor who gets so deep into character that he loses himself. For Tropic Thunder, Lazarus underwent a skin pigmentation surgery to look like his black character, Lincoln Osiris. The entire film he doesn't break character-- a jive-talking, black man, from God-Knows-Where. This causes a lot of frustration amongst the fellow actors.
But the scene-stealer is definitely the one and only master of Scientology, Tom Cruise. Cruise plays the ball-busting, foul-mouthed producer of Tropic Thunder Les Grossman. I never knew that Cruise could be truly funny. But all of his scenes are garunteed to make you laugh until you cry.
Also, if you're a fan of war movies, then you'll appreciate the homages laced throughout the film. There's scene mocking Platoon, Born On the Fourth of July, and Full Metal Jacket. Just don't take them too seriously, otherwise you might be a bit offended.
Also, if you're a fan of war movies, then you'll appreciate the homages laced throughout the film. There's scene mocking Platoon, Born On the Fourth of July, and Full Metal Jacket. Just don't take them too seriously, otherwise you might be a bit offended.
I've gotten wind that Robert Downey Jr. is to receive a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his role in this film. And to that I say, "Damn good job, RDJ." I'm not sure if I'm ready for a comedic role to recieve an Oscar, but hell I say the man deserves it. He got gypped out in 1992 for Chaplin (he lost out to Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman) and I think that he should get another chance. The only way I won't support him is if Heath Ledger gets put on the Best Actor bill. Sorry Robbie, but I gotta go with my Joker.
Anyway, that's beside the point. The point is that this film has it all: actual humor, great acting, good filmmaking, and a relevant plot. Rare to find all of these together in a comedy film. Go out and rent Tropic Thunder tonight!
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