I have been chomping on the bit to see "Tropic Thunder" since it hit the theaters and I was not at all disappointed. "Tropic Thunder" is extremely politically incorrect, but is brilliantly funny. The basic plotline is that a group of actors making a war movie find themselves captured by a real warlord and don't have any idea that this is not part of the movie they are shooting. Robert Downey Jr. is quickly re-establishing himself as one of my favorite actors and pushes the boundaries of "good taste" by playing a method actor so embroiled in "the method" that he has his skin darkened to play one of the black soldiers in the unit. His black/white duality makes for some hilarious material as he insists on staying in character, making his "actually black" castmate very uncomfortable. Jack Black plays a "sell-out" comedy star looking to re-establish his acting credentials. When his recovering addict character finds they have been captured by drug runners, he finds his loyalties torn. Finally, you have Ben Stiller as the action star, who is returning to his roots after making an "Oscar grab" by portraying a mentally challenged man (this is the source for much of the most politically correct but completely hilarious material). Joining this trio is an unrecognizable Tom Cruise as the self-involved studio head, showing Cruise has a great sense of humor and possibly resurrecting his career after some of his off-screen antics turned some people away from him. Cruise just about steals this movie. I was also totally amazed that Nick Nolte continues to find ways to play his "mug shot photo" and, yet, manages to turn in great performance. His role here as the Vietnam Vet whose book the movie they are making is based on is completely hilarious. Of course, if you do not like politically incorrect humor, you will definitely be turned off by this movie and will think less of me for liking it so much :)! Grade: B+
Trailer:
No comments:
Post a Comment