Tropic Thunder B+

Before we get to the shenanigans that formed Tropic Thunder, I’d like to take a second to talk about the state of the blog…again.  In case you hadn’t noticed already, and if you haven’t, shame on you, this is not Jesse.  Hi, I’m Dave, nice to meet all of you.  I’ve been a friend of Jesse (JJ as he’s known to me), since the first day of second grade when he confidently announced that he was glad I was there, because I could be the fat kid in class now.  As for why I am currently introducing myself, its not because I like to take over random blogs; Jesse has decided to leave the blog in my hands while he gets settled in LA.  You might have read my previous guest reviews of Mongol or Revolver, (and if you haven’t, you should…pure gold) but hopefully I can bring my unique voice to all five readers of this blog (Hi Mom, Dad, Bro, Jesse, and Random Guy from Nebraska!)  I plan to give you a review each and every day whenever possible, not only the best new movies, but maybe some you can rush out and rent yourself!  I hope you enjoy my stint here as much as I will, and I look forward to some interesting reviews and comments! On to Tropic Thunder…

If you know nothing else about Tropic Thunder, know that Robert Downey Jr. is in black face the entire movie and you’ll never laugh harder.  Now before you start crucifying me on my first review, go see the movie first, and then come back and tell me it’s not funny.  I’d bet not a single person who actually sees this movie doesn’t come away laughing at the performance, not because he’s in black-face, but because its so delightfully meta.  Downey Jr., an admitted method actor himself, plays a method actor who goes so far into his role that he becomes black even when he knows he’s no longer in the movie.  While it seems difficult to understand at first, watching the movie provides the first mainstreaming of the meta-humor that has become so popular on the indie scene the last few years.  The entire movie riffs on the meta-humor; complete with extra ‘previews’ before the movie for the fake movies of the actors being portrayed in the movie (got all that?).  The nods to Hollywood, and the problems associated with making a movie, are just done so well and seamlessly that the normally highbrow meta-humor is just so easy the entire theater erupts in laughter.

Besides Downey Jr., Ben Stiller and Jack Black round out the big three of the movie (Matthew McConaughey and Tom Cruise make cameos as well, which I wont spoil for you).  You’d think with all that firepower the load wouldn’t rest on Downey Jr., but it does.  In another meta-reference, Black plays a comedian who has been completely typecast into fart joke roles, much as Black himself has been typecast into his own, loud, repetitive character.  Stiller, back in the director’s chair after Zoolander and The Cable Guy, is only mediocre in his role as a washed up action star but excels in getting the most out of the rest of the cast, himself and Black excluded.  Poor execution dooms these two characters, but with Downey Jr. and the rest of the supporting cast providing such strong performances, I didn’t mind it in the least.  I have to say, if you have an extra 10 bucks lying around, you need to go see this movie, if just to say you saw and believed Robert Downey Jr. as a black man.  I look forward to your continued readership and exploring the great and awful movies that are on the horizon!