Rating:
4 out of 5
Short version: Tropic Thunder is crass, gross and rude – but it’s also funny as hell.
Screen Rant reviews Tropic Thunder
Can i make this any more clear?
Leave. The kids. At Home.
Ok, got it? Let’s move on.
For adults, and for further clarification: Adults that don’t mind rude, crass humor – Tropic Thunder is a VERY funny movie.
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One of the few problems with Tropic Thunder is that it starts out so damned funny that the rest of the movie has a hard time living up to those opening scenes. The film opens with a montage of clips that introduce the audience to the actors in the film. When I say “actors” I don’t mean Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. – I mean the actors they portray in the film (in matching order to the previous list): Tugg Speedman, Jeff Portnoy and Kirk Lazarus.
The film opens with a combination of fake trailers, Entertainment Tonight-type clips and a commercial for an energy drink called “Booty Sweat” (promoted by Alpa Cino, who is played by Brandon T. Jackson). We see that Tugg Speedman is an action star who made a play at winning an Oscar by playing a mentally handicapped character in the movie “Simple Jack.” Kirk Lazarus is the guy who actually gets the Oscars (shown in a trailer that cameos Tobey Macguire and was quite hysterical), and Jeff Portnoy is an out-of-control comedy actor that does the sort of films that Eddie Murphy has done of late.
All of the actors involved are spoiled beyond belief and the director of the film within the film, “Tropic Thunder”, is at his wit’s end as to how to get the movie made which although it only started filming days ago is already somehow months behind schedule.
In comes Vietnam vet Nick Nolte, upon whose life experience the film is based. His suggestion is to drop the cast in the jungle – no entourage, no lattes, no Tivo and have them experience what it would really be like. What no one knows is that the cast has been dropped in the midst of an area controlled by a drug lord who doesn’t take kindly to outsiders.
The film shifts gears for the characters as they eventually realize the predicament they’re in and have to “man-up” to deal with the situation.
Now anyone who reads Screen Rant regularly knows that I’m not a big fan of “stupid-funny” comedies. While Tropic Thunder is certainly silly, it doesn’t descend to the level of stupidity as so many other recent comedies have done. What’s funny about the film is the fact that the actors (the real actors, not the characters in the film) are all pretty much poking fun at themselves. The only exception (as Harry Knowles pointed out in his review) is Ben Stiller, who is parodying an action star when he isn’t one.
There is some serious gore in this movie, but it’s played for laughs (there’s one scene with Ben Stiller holding a head that will really gross you out if you’re not accustomed to this sort of thing). Stiller was OK, and Jack Black starts out super-annoying but you’ll warm up to him by the end of the film. However without a doubt the man who steals the movie is Robert Downey Jr. as the white actor who undergoes surgery to play a black man in the film – and utterly immerses himself in the role.
Watching Downey play a white actor playing a black man who convinces himself he really IS black is too funny for words. And the juxtaposition of placing him in a scene with a real black actor who is vexed at Downey Jr’s attitude just adds to the mix.
When another character in the film refers to “you people” (meaning everyone present) Downey’s indignation when he says “what do you mean: ‘you people’”… well, it makes me laugh right now just thinking about it.
With the crappy comedies that we’ve seen this year like The Love Guru and Don’t Mess with the Zohan, it was a pleasure to watch a movie that actually managed to make me laugh. A lot.
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30 Comments
Ok, I have one question; can I take my kids to see it?
Sounds like a movie I have to put on my list. Thanks, Vic.
I totally forgot to mention the awesomeness that was Tom Cruise in the movie. I saw it a couple of weeks ago and it slipped my mind somehow. He was fantastic.
Vic
It was a great movie. I am not allowed to post my review up but I agree with most of what Vic had to say. Was a hilarious but very very raunchy movie!
man, why a review 5-6 days before release, lol.
I don’t read your reviews till after I see the film, I just quickly scrolled to end of this page without looking to post this comment. I don’t want to get spoiled at all
I’m really excited to see this film!
Can’t wait to see this tomarrow !!
I recently watched Apocalypse Now , and even from the trailers it looks like there’s alot of inside jokes on that.
When is this coming out ??? Well whenever ill be there wearing camos.
Rob,
I actually saw it at Comic-Con two weeks ago and just figured I’d go ahead and write up the review. Usually I go to screenings and I’m obligated to wait until the day of release.
It comes out on August 15th.
Vic
Yeap, I remember you getting a chance to see it at comic con. Was that only for press? or could any attendees see that pre-show?
Sometimes there are ticket giveaways on radio and tv stations and non-press can attend. That was the case here.
Vic
Kahless,,, Not for Kids !!!!
Thought the film was entertaining. It could have been a little funnier,,,
The inside jokes were all over the place. Vic did you notice the Vulcan ears on McConnaheys desk. Lol
Downey steals the film, Cruise was just over the top gross.
I would give the film 3 out of 5.
This movie was great!!!! Best Ben Stiller any type movie.Great cast and all. I will definitely see this movie more than once.
This movie was great!!!! Best Ben Stiller anything. I will definitely see this movie more than once.Absolutely loved the fake movie trailer clips in the begining.
I laughed a lot! I loved the beginning trailers (I actually thought the movie hadn’t started initially). Cruise totally fooled me until about 3/4 into the film. Also, did Ben work out for this role? I think someone already talked about this but he seemed pretty cut.
This has got to be the most vulgar, disgusting movie I have attempted to get through in YEARS!! I walked out with my bother in law (who is 26) behind at least 5 couples of varying ages, mostly 20 somethings. The teenagers in the theater were starting to force thier laughter about 20 minutes into the movie. I wouldn’t allow my teenager into that movie. The people next to me were completly embarrased as I looked around and apparently they didn’t have the guts to get up and leave.
@WAYLIFE
Well I made that VERY clear in my review. As a matter I have a lot of friends who I told NOT to go see it quite explicitly.
It’s not for everyone, but I did find it funny myself.’
Vic
@WAYLIFE,,,
This comedy film, was really an inside joke on another movie called “Hearts of Darkness”, with a subplot of how self absorbed actors and agents can get when they receive some level of success.
As far as Stiller goes, this is one of his best idea’s (IMO) for a film comedy in years.
(WAYLIFE) have you seen “Hearts of Darkness?”…
I highly reccomend it, Its the documentary of the on location filming of (Apocalypse Now).
I found the entire film (Tropic Thunder), especally Stiller’s character to be a parody of Marlon Brando’s Kurtz character in (Apocalypse Now).
Brando’s conduct on (Apocalypse Now), was so self-involved that it almost ruined the film, his career, and Coppala’s as well.
Brando didn’t read the script he made all that “The Horror” crap up himself. At the end of the 2 weeks, Brando left the film and Coppala had to use whatever he could.
Throw in the problems with other actors all wasted on drugs, Sheen suffering a heart attack during the shoot, and you can see the inspired humor in Tropic Thunder.
Its a harsh film with harsh subject matter, and its a comedy,,, so yeah I can see how it would offend some ppl.
I have to ask what were teenagers doing in the theater since its Rated R ??
There is a funny and smart review of Tropic Thunder on YouTube
check it out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKuwY9v4DhI
Waylife, where do you live, in the middle of an Amish community or something? The movie was definitely rude and vulgar, but did not actually have that much toilet humor in it like with Austin Powers 2. I HATE movies that rely on gross-out or sexual comedy, but this one was not one of those movies at all. Like I said, it was definitely rude and politically incorrect, but I don’t know what movie you saw that had everyone hating it because it’s pretty unanimous that people like this film. It’s even passed the critics apparently according to Rottentomatoes…
Yes, I’m sure the Judaism is what does it. (Sarcasm isn’t as funny online.) This movie is funny, if you can see past the vulgarity, which automatically makes it less funny. To watch a movie that is good despite itself kind of defeats the purpose. That being said, RDJ is amazing. Every new performance, he stretches even more. The man’s range is phenomenal. Can’t wait for IM2 and AVENGERS!!!!!
I suggest you to watch THE TELETUBBIES.
At least your IQ will not drop more than 20 points.
Wow, what a relevant addition to the conversation. But, despite your best efforts, this actually does raise a valid point. Is dumb humor worth it? I mean, I appreciated the racially fueled jokes, social commentary jokes, and loved how Stiller just throws it out there, how so many people are famous for no good reason. I mean, suck on that Hollywood. But, at the same time, isn’t that what this movie is in and of itself? Or is it not that at all. Maybe we’re missing the genius. Maybe this is to the film industry what Spinal Tap was to music in its time.
Well, even though it’s true that everyone in the film is part of the Hollywood they are making fun of. The fact that they are able to express these “truths” in a comedic manner shows that they are maybe a bit humble or at least are able to admit to the problem, while most other actors and members of Hollywood seem to believe they are untouchable and are usually full of themselves. George Clooney comes to mind right away…
Clooneys ego is so big, you can’t make a cell phone call within 30 ft of the guy…
Hasim-Re: The Teletubbies?
I had the misfortune of babysitting nephews and nieces while the moms went out shopping…guess what was the only show they’d watch?
After 5 segments, I swear I could feel my brain melting like an ice-cream cone on the sidewalk during a 100-degree day; I kept checking to see if little brain-rivulets were trickling down my shirt from my ears.
Wow, I don’t know how I let those anti-semitic comments slip through a while back. I’ve deleted them and the last couple of response comments.
Vic
@Vic
I must have missed those. I wasn’t involved in any of that, was I?
Don’t think so. Don’t worry about it.
Vic
I loved this movie. I would easily say it was THE funniest movie of the year, or the last few for that matter. I really enjoyed the satire throughout the entire movie, as well as Downey performance.
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