Tropic Thunder (2008)

[Tuco the ugly]

Ben Stiller should have been born in the 20s, along with Ferrell and the others.

[Groggy]

Why? Are you saying they'd be good at screwball comedy?

[Tuco the ugly]

I'm saying they're outdated.

[moviesceleton]

Well it sure looks like the most prominent spoof movie for a long time but that doesn't mean anything. But the idea looks rather original. The only really funny movie I can remember Stiller being in is There's Something About Mary.

The conclusion: Ain't payin' 10 euros to see this one.

[Tucumcari Bound]

Well it sure looks like the most prominent spoof movie for a long time but that doesn't mean anything. But the idea looks rather original. The only really funny movie I can remember Stiller being in is There's Something About Mary.

The conclusion: Ain't payin' 10 euros to see this one.

Well, I'm not that excited about seeing this and I will hold off on my final opinion until I do view it once. I won't be seeing it at the theatre though.

[Panache]

Cable Guy makes me want to blow my head off. This movie makes me want to wear Blackface.

hell why not do both

[Whalestoe]

hell why not do both

I think I'd kill you if I had the chance.

[Panache]

 

ya know im just yankin yer chain man

[Whalestoe]

ya know im just yankin yer chain man

Mmmmmm... yanked chain...

[Ben Tyreen]

 Saw this today and really enjoyed it.  The cast is really good, especially Robert Downey JR and Jack Black, and seem to be really enjoying themselves.  The opening scene in Vietnam is pretty classic as it pokes fun at just about every Vietnam movie you can think of from Platoon to Apocalypse Now.  If you're a fan of war movies, you'll most likely enjoy this one as it takes all those cliches to town and strings them up.  Also worth mentioning some excellent cameos, but I won't spoil them here.

 As for the complaints about Downey JR portraying a black man, the audience didn't seem to mind and the black people in the crowd enjoyed the part as much as anyone.  The part of Sgt. Osiris is so over the top and stereotypical, you've seen the character in any number of war movies, that it's hard to say this was done with any harsh intent.  The 'retard' jokes get to be a little much, but even then I got the sense it was more poking fun at the actors who take those roles that are sure to bring you an Oscar and the studio heads that back them.

  Very funny stuff though, great casting, well worth seeing.  7.5/10

[Silenzio]

I also saw this in the theatre.  I assure you, the first twenty minutes or so are BRILLIANT.  In fact, they were so good that I wouldn't want to give away how the film just kind of throws you into this world of satire in the beginning, making fun of all kinds of aspects of modern american films and popular culture.  For instance, the ultra-stereotypical, ultra-profane depiction of Robert Downey Jr. as a black man had me in stitches.  And for the record, I don't think this movie is at all racist, but satirically taking a shot at the movie industry's tendency to do these racist depictions of blacks.


But now is the bad news... after about the first half, the movie really loses its steam.  A wise man once said, "There's a fine line between stupid... and clever."  Well, the first chunk of this movie is clever, but it slowly inches its way further and further into stupidity.  By the end of the movie, even some of RDJ's lines become so stupid it's embarrassing, and even though the Simple Jack jokes were hysterical at first, they completely lose their steam when they keep running with them long after the gag should have died.

Maybe it's just because I enjoyed the first bit of the movie so much (which was not only original and hilarious but had great production quality as well) that I was so disappointed with the fact that this movie dives headfirst into typical modern comedy idiocy.  But, I guess that's just how it goes.

I say it's worth watching just for the half, which warrant a 9/10, and the second half warrants a 5/10... or less.

[PowerRR]

Agreed with (partially) Silenzio. The first 20 minutes were absolutely brilliant, but while the movie loses steam quickly, it still doesn't fail to make me laugh.

[The Firecracker]

Agreed with both Silenzio and RR.
They hit it right on the money with the first half hour, then things start to go down hill (roughly, just after the appearence of the prosthetic head).
 The laughs pick up again during the last 10 minutes though.

Out of the three leads Downey was the the most stand out but he was the most overexposed as well, so much that it was refereshing to see him take off the make-up towards the end.
Stiller was underused and Black's material was very unfunny.
Though he had a few lines that made me chuckle.


6.5/10

[Silenzio]

I agree that the prosthetic head scene is the turning point.

[The Firecracker]

That "pussy/ass sweat" commercial had me thinkin' "somebody must have hijacked the projector".