Tropic Thunder

The documentary “Hearts of Darkness” is about the difficulties of filming the famous Vietnam war movie “Apocalypse Now.” Ben Stiller’s 2008 “Tropic Thunder” is like that doc’s nightmare. A group of actors, with the idea they’re making a Vietnam war movie, travel dangerously in the jungle and is captured by a gang of druglords who think the actors are decoys.

Roger Ebert said in his review, “The movie is a send-up of Hollywood, actors, acting, agents, directors, writers, rappers, trailers and egos, much enhanced by several cameo roles, the best of which I will not even mention.” You’ll know the one, however you may have to wait for the credits to know for sure.

The highlight of the film, Robert Downey Jr. is not just funny but also very good and sometimes even indirect as Kirk Lazarus, an Australian actor who has won five Oscars and has surgically dyed his skin to change himself into a black man. He is very committed to this role that he stays in character all the time, looking convinced that he is actually black.

This irritates his fellow actor Alpa Chino, played by comedian Brandon T. Jackson, a rapper who was born black and snaps Lazarus out of his fantasy. Alpa Chino (say it out loud) like many rappers and promotes his own merchandise, famously Booty Sweat, an energy drink that keeps him going in the jungle. If Chino doesn’t buy the Lazarus character, Lazarus is critical of Tugg Speedman, played by Stiller, who also starred in “Simple Jack,” a movie about a mentally challenged farmer who thinks animals can understand him.

Ironically, it is that role that saves their lives when they’re taken prisoner. The bored druglords have only one video, an old “Simple Jack” tape, and think Speedman is Jack himself. Ebert said, “In a brilliant comic riff by Downey, Lazarus critiques Speedman’s work as over the top: The really big stars, he observes, “never go full retard” when playing such roles.”

The movie starts with trailers setting up three of the characters – not only Lazarus and Speedman, but Jeff Portnoy, played by Jack Black, whose famous for fart jokes. Ebert said, “Portnoy is a heroin addict who is in withdrawal for much of the trek through the jungle, and has a funny scene after he begs to be tied to a tree and then begs to be set loose.”

The set-up involves the actors, director Damien Cockburn (Steve Coogan) and burnt-out screenwriter Four Leaf Tayback (Nick Nolte) in the jungle with a huge crew (including Jay Baruchel) and explosives expert Cody (Danny McBride). Ebert said, “When one of the explosions goes off prematurely (think the opening of “The Party”), Speedman, acting as producer, fires the crew and announces he will direct the movie himself.” He explains that hidden cameras have been placed in the jungle and will record everything that happens. Is that possible, especially when they get lost? Ebert said, “These actors, even the five-time Oscar winner, almost seem to believe so, a tribute to their self-centered indifference to technical details.”

Alternate with the jungle scenes are Holly scenes with an agent (Matthew McConaughey and Bill Hader) and a studio executive (Tom Cruise). The movie, written by Justin Theroux, Stiller, and Etan Cohen, is familiar with the trials of filmmaking and location work, and refines it into crazy exaggerated scenes that have a hint of accuracy. Especially interested is the way the director, Damien Cockburn, leaves the film, which perhaps reflects the way some actors feel about some directors.

Ebert said, “The movie is, may I say, considerably better than Stiller’s previous film, “Zoolander” (2001). It’s the kind of summer comedy that rolls in, makes a lot of people laugh and rolls on to video. It’s been a good summer for that; look at “Pineapple Express.”” When it’s over, you’ll probably remember Robert Downey Jr. the most. 2008 was a good year for him, since “Tropic Thunder” came after “Iron Man.” After that year, he was back big time.

As I stated last week, this is my all-time favorite comedy. I just loved how much this film parodies different types of films and actors, especially the genre the actors think they are filming. The best parts are the camaraderie between Downey, Black, and Stiller. Those three work well off of one another and the comedy they have with the rest of the actors is just great. This is another film where Cruise does not play his usual role and was different, especially seeing McConaughy in something different rather than a romantic comedy, which he was known for. Check this film out and have an enjoyable time laughing at it from beginning to end. Currently, this is streaming on Paramount+.

Thank you for joining in on “Nick Nolte Month.” I hope everyone enjoyed it and have seen the films I recommended. Stay tuned next month to see what I will review next.