Category: Film
Genre: Comedy / Action / War
Directed By: Ben Stiller
Running Time: 107 min.
Tropic Thunder is one of the surprising comedy successes of recent films. A solid premise, a terrific cast, and a good helping of language give it a punch that I haven’t seen out of a comedy in quite some time.
Past Stiller projects had me wary of getting my hopes up for Tropic Thunder, but as it turns out I was thoroughly pleased with the film. The difference comes from the fact that this film has a good bankable premise, which is something most other modern comedies seem to have trouble with. The layers of actors playing actors no longer acting is rich territory for comedy, and it is well capitalized on.
The cast and their performances are what give the film real traction. Ben Stiller plays much the same as previous roles, but with more depth and less throw-away weirdness, reminding me of his work in “There’s Something About Mary.” Jack Black does a great job of compound comic relief without going too far over the top, much like his performance in “High Fidelity.” Robert Downey Jr. breaks type and plays what is probably his most entertaining role since “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” as an Ausie method actor playing a Vietnam-era black man getting a bit lost in his method. Supporting performances by Jay Baruchel (of “Knocked Up”), Nick Nolte (channeling a bit of Gary Busey), and Tom Cruise flesh out the film to great effect. Cruise in particular plays his oddest character to date, what I can only describe as a mix between Al Pacino, James Lipton, and Joe Pantoliano, hyped up on some sort of mind altering substance.
By all appearances, the film is a comedy for the adult crowd, which makes it stick out from the landscape of tween comedies. That the creators opted for an unrestrained dialog and chose not to cash in on every gross-out gag available (thought the film has its fair share of over the top moments, they are well played), lets you know what audience the film is aimed at.
All in all Tropic Thunder is a well executed action comedy, that avoids most of the pitfalls that sink other comedies these days, and makes for a satisfying good time.
Rating: 7/10
