Movie Review: Tropic Thunder

All of the trailers I saw for this movie left me laughing out loud. I couldn't help it. The movie looked ridiculous and hilarious, and I was left with the strong desire to see it. So, it was with great anticipation that I sat down in the theater to see what Ben Stiller was to offer. The lights went down, the camera flickered to life and images began to dance across the screen. As the film played, I laughed and I laughed, and I laughed some more. I am pretty sure that while I was in the throes of laughter I missed some of the jokes. This movie easily met my expectations, and while it did not quite have the heart to make it an instant classic, there is no shortage of the funny stuff to more than make up for it.

Tropic Thunder tells a familiar tale, however it is done in smart fashion as it skewers many aspects of Hollywood. As I watched the film, I could not help but think of a few other movies. Among those other movies were The Three Amigos, A Bug's Life, Galaxy Quest, and Hearts of Darkness. The first three for the basic setup of the heroes thinking they are doing one thing only to discover the dire reality of the situation as they are forced to look within themselves as their mettle is tested, ultimately overcoming their trepidation. The last film is a documentary on the making of Apocalypse Now, if you did not know, that film was fraught with problems and this film captures everything beautifully. It is relevant to Tropic Thunder as this has a film within a film structure, with the internal film being one stricken with all manner of difficulties and problems.

Before the film starts, or as it starts depending on your point of view, we are treated to a few trailers, introducing us to the main characters. It was like they took a page out of the Grindhouse playbook, taking it to the next step by tying it directly into the main film. Frankly, I thought it was a great little touch that went a long way towards building up some early good will.

The story chronicles the making of a film called Tropic Thunder. It is a story based on a book, of the same title, that tells of the mission into Vietnam to rescue a captured soldier, Four Leaf Tayback. Problems arise due to the star studded cast not being able to perform, expensive explosions going off at the wrong time, and a host of other issues. In an attempt to finish the movie and add a touch of authenticity, the decision is made to shoot the movie guerrilla style. The five-man team is dropped in the middle of the jungle where they are mistaken for DEA by the local drug lord looking to protect his heroin operation.

Co-writers Ben Stiller and Justin Theroux take aim at Hollywood, leaving no stone unturned. There are prima donna actors, fading action heroes, over-zealous agents, blood thirsty producers, and dishonest writers. In other words, everything that makes the entertainment world go round.

Aside from the set up and the skewering targets, what makes the movie work so well are the performances. The absolute best performance is delivered by Robert Downey Jr., who is having one heck of a year. He portrays Kirk Lazarus, a five time Oscar winning method actor who undergoes skin pigmentation surgery to play the African-American leader of the military operation portrayed in Tropic Thunder. He quite simply nails the character. Not far behind are Ben Stiller as fading action hero Tugg Speedman and Jack Black as fart-comedy specialist Jeff Portnoy. These three big stars step ably into the star roles within the movie, not without hints of actual stars Russell Crowe (Downey denies he was channeling the Aussie, even apologizing to Crowe), Sylvestor Stallone, and Eddie Murphy. Not to be forgotten is Brandon T. Jackson as hip hop star turned actor Alpa Chino (get it?), who is busy hawking his energy drink, called Booty Sweat, while harboring a secret that could undo his image.

The movie approaches greatness in the way that they take familiar situations and push them to the edge. Stiller and Theroux know what it is like to be on movie sets and the problems that can arise, they take them and make them utterly ridiculous. At the same time, they hold the movie together in a tight plot driven path.

I love how subversive the film felt. Sure, it is not right there on the surface, but it is there. On the surface you get a ridiculously over the top comedy that will leave you in stitches, while beneath lurks satire that leaves no stone unturned and uncovers the ruthlessness that infects the industry. I particularly enjoyed the revelation of the story source, I will not reveal it here, but I found that aspect to be quite telling.

If the film has any weakness, it would have to be the lack of heart. Heart is the one element that would have put this over the top, but it is just fails to deliver on that note. That doesn't mean I didn't connect with the characters. I did, I just don't feel that they were all they could be. Still, it is a small nit in what is overall a very funny movie.

Bottomline. If you are looking to laugh, this will fill the bill. The trailers set the expectation line pretty high, and it was up to the task. The cast is filled with stars, all nailing their parts, including a star making an extended cameo that just cracked me up. Do yourself a favor, spend some time with Tropic Thunder.

Highly Recommended.