Tangled Magazine

Go See Tropic Thunder – It’s a Blast

Tropic Thunder (2008)

Starring: Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black, Brandon T. Jackson, Jay Burachel, Steve Coogan, Nick Nolte, Matthew McConaughey, Danny McBride
Director: Ben Stiller
Release Dates: August 15, 2008 (US) / August 21, 2008 (AUS)
Rating: R (US) / MA 15+ (AUS)
Stars: ***** out of 5

It’s has been seven years since Ben Stiller’s directorial debut in the overly hilarious look into the world of modeling with Zoolander (2001). Now he is back with his action comedy blockbuster Tropic Thunder, and it does not disappoint. Before the movie has begun, you are already doubling over laughter with fake trailers and a energy drink commercials for the actors. Notably, Satan’s Alley with Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.) and Tobey Maguire ala Brokeback Mountain style in the convent.

Three big movie stars begin to work on a war movie, which already is behind 2 months schedule after 5 days of filming. You have Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller). His career is not doing so well. His last pictures Simple Jack and the Scorcher series have become failures at the box office. Kirk Lazarus is an iconic and method actor whom transformed himself into a black man to play the role. Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black) is a comedic actor with a Eddie Murphy type movies and a recovering coke addict. Egos are getting in the way of their work. With the suggestion of the special effects guy, Four Leaf Tayback (Nick Nolte), the director, Damien Cockburn (Steve Coogan) puts them in a remote island but it soon turns out it’s a heroin manufacturing area with armed guards who want them dead and have to fend for their lives and act their way out of it.

Every performance from each actor was top notch all the way. Like Zoolander, it has unforgettable one liners, hilarious dialogue, and also great action scenes. Downey’s Australian accent was great, although needs a little bit of work. One of the main standouts was Tom Cruise. It’s been widely reported this his part in the movie was a cameo but with the amount of screen time that he has, he would get the supporting role credit. As a fat, foul mouthed and dirty dancing movie exec Les Grossman, despite shining the spotlight on his personal beliefs, it has to be his best comedic performance, if not, the best performance of his career. The disappointment of the movie? Absolutely nothing. There was not one scene that was bad and wouldn’t have minded if it went on for hours. Although, McConaughey as Tugg Speedman’s agent, Rick Peck (originally to be played by Owen Wilson), did not take his shirt off. Cry a river, McConaughey fans!

Tropic Thunder is the best comedy of the year. That is all that needs to be said.