Movie Review: Tropic Thunder

I have to admit. I have mixed feelings about this film.

Needless to say, it will easily be remembered as one of the funniest R-rated comedies of this year, but I find myself with a little pain of disappointment. It's hilarious, it has great acting, but it could have been so much more.

Tropic Thunder tells the story of a group of famous actors shooting a gritty Vietnam film that is constantly derailed by their own egos and the typical Hollywood system. So the director decides that the only way to get a good movie out of them was to stick them into the middle of the actual Vietnam, something that a few of the characters fail to realize. What follows is a wonderful comedic romp, that satires the Hollywood industry rather well.

What is great about this film is the excellent performance from Robert Downey Jr. as a character actor that takes things too far. I thought it was a great turn for the character to actually be a voice of reason, yet seems strangely compelled to stay in character. Bravo, Mister Downey to play a comedic character with depth, not an easy accomplishment.

Another stand out is the surprise appearance of Tom Cruise playing an overly aggressive, over weight film producer. His role was unexpected because it was never advertised and he easily stole the scene every time his character graced the screen. I do admit that I found his dance number a little over the top, I think the film would have been a little better if his quirk was a little less cheesy and much more disturbing.

Ben Stiller does an excellent job of directing this feature. The movie looks and feels flawless, with all the comedic timing hitting at the right times and the music matching perfectly. The downside though is Ben Stiller's acting. Not that it is bad, its just the same character we have always seen from him. It doesn't detract from the film, but it doesn't really add anything either. I wish his character had some sort of personality trait that made him stand out a little more. It was tough though, when you have an excellent performance from Downey to compete with.

Jack Black is funny, but his character was almost forgettable. Because of the story arc he was given, it felt like watching a family sitcom where the crazy uncle shows up every once in a while to prove his existence. Though I must admit the satirical faux trailer at the beginning of the film done by Black is hilarious and highlights everything that is so wrong with a certain trend in Hollywood.

The biggest complaint I have towards this movie is its sheer amount of raunchiness. It is very much an R rated film through and through and doesn't even try and be something else. I am no prude by any stretch but there is a point where things go a little too far, and I found myself a little disgusted at a few scenes, unlike the good kind of crude humor where you laugh in spite of what you see (though this film had plenty of that too). I think there where certain things that went to far, but nothing really taking away from the movie experience. The same joke could have been funnier if certain things didn't distract from the joke.

Despite my negatives, the film overall is rather excellent and just plain funny. If you like to laugh, and have a thick enough skin, I highly recommend seeing this while it is still in the theaters. Movies like this reward going to see it in an audience.

Here is the preview, see you at the movies: