Review: Tropic Thunder
Penguin August 26th, 2008
Rating: 4/4 stars
Tropic Thunder is about a bunch of actors who go to Vietnam to shoot a movie. Think Apocalypse Now meets Zoolander.
The film is so wrong but so funny. It pokes fun at Hollywood and what actors will do to get noticed. Sure, there’s the whole “retard” controversy, but most of the antagonism comes from people who haven’t seen it in context. The way that Ben Stiller uses it is so true and makes such a pointed statement, that it’s not offensive at all. Some would say Robert Downey Jr in blackface is offensive, but the Wayans in whiteface and drag isn’t?
If there is anything wrong, it mostly lies with Jack Black. For the most part, he’s unfunny. There is one scene towards the end that is absolutely fantastic.
As a filmmaker, I can really appreciate a lot of the jokes. I probably can’t appreciate it as much as those in the Hollywood system though. Bottom line. If you haven’t seen it yet, go see it.
-Penguin
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