Tropic Thunder Review

by David Rosen

4 out of 4 Thumbs

First and foremost, it should be said that “Tropic Thunder,” the new comedy from Ben Stiller (his first behind the camera since 2001's “Zoolander”) is by far the best movie about making a movie based on a fake book about the Vietnam War ever. With that said, it also happens to be the best comedy of the year so far, featuring some of the funniest performances in years and also is easily Stiller's best work since “Zoolander.”

The four main stars are setup with a sequence of hilarious fake-previews for upcoming films by the actors of the movie-within-a-movie, “Tropic Thunder.” Ben Stiller's Tugg Speedman is an action star who's about to wear out his welcome with the sixth installment of his action-packed “Scorcher” series. There's five-time Academy Award winner Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.) playing a priest who desperately wants to go against God's way and get a piece of Tobey Maguire in “Satan's Alley.” Energy drink hocking hip-hop star, turned actor Alpa Chino (newcomer Brandon T. Jackson) will do anything to sell another can of Booty Sweat energy drink (and his new line of Bust-A-Nut Bars). Last but not least is Jack Black as Jeff Portnoy, who is basically Jack Black and Eddie Murphy rolled into one, but now with more farts in “The Fatties: Fart Two.”

As the film “Tropic Thunder,” continues to go over budget due to it's stars pettiness and run-ins with the law and media, director Damien Cockburn (the always hilarious Steve Coogan) decides to bring the actors into the real action in Vietnam where they end up in real-life line of fire with a heroin cartel. All hell breaks loose from there as the crew begin to fight for their lives through the jungles of Vietnam, all while sticking to every cliché in the war movie book. But while the story (penned by Stiller, Justin Theroux and Etan Cohen) has a lot going for it, the real gold in this movie is in the performances.

By now it's pretty well known that the real story of this movie is how Robert Downey Jr.'s Kirk Lazarus is a method actor that dyes his skin to play the crews black Sergeant Osiris. It's a role that could cause a huge backlash for Downey, but he pulls it off in such a ridiculous, crowd pleasing way, that no one could truly complain about what is essentially him playing in black face (more on what people actually are complaining about later). “I know who I am,” barks Osiris, “I'm the dude who's playin' a dude disguised as another dude!” It's not a exaggeration in any way to say that his role is Oscar-worthy. This is method acting on the level of Robert DeNiro or Daniel Day-Lewis, and should be regarded as such. Just watch as he starts to shed his image towards the end (a running theme is how unbelievably insecure all these actors are), and see as he keeps certain aspects of his black character while other parts of his Father O'Malley from “Satan's Alley” begin to appear, as well as his “real life” Australian self (and even his other Oscar winning, but absolutely ridiculous, portrayal of Neil Armstrong). This is the performance of a life-time for Downey.

Jack Black is surprisingly funny basically playing himself (the lovable drug addicted fat guy) and Ben Stiller is basically a slightly smarter actor version of Derek Zoolander. Both are excellent, though, and hilarious throughout. Some surprising cameos, though, include a nearly unrecognizable Tom Cruise as an overweight, over-aggressive, Diet Coke-drinking studio exec and even Matthew McConaughey as Tuggman's best friend/agent (believe it or not, he really is hilarious in this). Also, everyone in Hollywood's favorite new funnyman Danny McBride really delivers as the explosions expert who “once almost blinded Jamie Lee Curtis on the set of Freaky Friday.”

“Tropic Thunder,” is basically a self-mocking tribute to how far removed from reality most big actors become. One of the best examples of this theme is in Tuggman's attempt at Oscar gold with the ill-informed “Simple Jack,” a movie in which he plays, not autistic, not slow, but full blown “retarded.” As Lazarus, no stranger to the Oscars explains to Tuggman, you don't go “full retard” if you want to win an Oscar... Just look at Sean Penn in “I Am Sam.” This is what various organizations such as the Special Olympics are mad about. Perhaps they should watch the movie and realize that they are in no way making fun of mentally handicapped people... but rather making fun of actor's and the lengths they will go to win awards. But then again, all the controversy is doing is ensuring that “Tropic Thunder,” enjoys a nice number one box office weekend, right where it belongs.