TROPIC THUNDER

"Action..."

The world's biggest action star Tugg Speedman (Stiller), Hollywood's most successful comedian Jeff Portnoy (Black) and multi-Oscar winning method actor Kirk Lazarus (Downey Jr.) have come together to bring the award winning Vietnam novel 'Tropic Thunder' to the silver screen but British director Damien Cockburn (Coogan) can't get the most out of his big name actors. With the moneymen threatening to pull the plug, the novel's author Four Leaf Tayback (Nolte) tells him to take the five main cast members into the jungle and let them see what the real Vietnam jungle is really like but when the local heroin smugglers see five American's in the middle of the jungle they think they are going to attack, so they declare war on the five actors.

Ben Stiller sees himself not just as a comedic actor but can he prove himself as a writer and a director as well as a performer?

After making his name as a comedic actor, Ben Stiller is a lot more creative than you might think. While he ridiculed the fashion industry with 'Zoolander' and turned Jim Carrey into a psychopathic stalker in 'The Cable Guy', his next big screen outing is his most ambitious yet and Hollywood is his target.

For 'Tropic Thunder', the story is a look at the trapping of celebrity and how far an 'artist' will go for their performance. The three main characters are based on a combination of Hollywood stars, their bodies of work and their approach to their craft. First we have the action star, Tugg Speedman, who is best known for one blockbuster action franchise who longs to be taken seriously but after his 'serious' movie 'Simple Jack' is a box office and critical disaster, he needs 'Tropic Thunder' save his career from just been one long action sequence. We also have the comedian Jeff Portnoy, best known for playing multiple parts and his over reliance on flatulence jokes, also wants to be taken more seriously. Finally we have the award winner, the actor who becomes consumed by the part, living the character for the entire shoot. He is Australian super actor Kirk Lazarus, who has controversially had a skin augmentation procedure to become the black sergeant of the film. Of course these three actors with huge egos cannot work together, much to the determent of the film and the British director Damien Cockburn and with the financers threatening to pull the plug, 'Tropic Thunder' writer, Vietnam veteran Four Leaf Tayback suggests a change of approach. Taking his advice, he puts his actors in the middle of the Vietnam jungle and decides to shoot the film gorilla style but what he doesn't realise is that the local, drug growing rebels think that the acting platoon is a real American Unit, sent in to take their drug money. So now the war is real, it is just a shame that the actors don't realise this.

This premise is one set up for comedy and for the most part it delivers but it is also slightly self-indulgent. There are two performances that make 'Tropic Thunder' a comedy worth the attention. Firstly it is the performance of Robert Downey Jr. as the controversial Kirk Lazarus, transformed into a black man by surgery all for his 'art' that captures the audience from the off. His star is definitely on the rise again and his true talent is being shown again. His role, while the main talking point of the movie because his race transformation, is handled extremely well without any stereotyping but to do with the excesses of the acting craft and how far an individual would go. The second standout role is one that you have never seen this actor play before. When you picture a foul-mouthed, overweight, balding billionaire media mogul, you would think that superstar Tom Cruise would be ideal for this role but he is the man playing him. Barely recognisable under the layers of make up, this is finally a Tom Cruise who isn't the star of the film, the big name on the poster and the dominating figure of the film. He is a supporting character but one that does almost steal the movie. This is a role that shows a new side to the superstar and one that should win him back many of his fans.

The rest of the supporting cast is also good with Jay Baruchel and Brandon T. Jackson standing out as fellow platoon members Kevin Sandusky and rapper-turned-actor Alpa Chino. Steve Coogan, Nic Nolte and Danny McBride also have fun. It isn't all good however as Jack Black's character Jeff Portnoy is just an annoying junkie and Ben Stiller's own character, Tugg Speedman is a little too like Zoolander for his own good.

'Tropic Thunder' is a good comedic look at the Hollywood style that is only hindered by an overly indulgent writer/director, in Stiller who was probably given too much creative freedom and money, meaning that the film is overly long, tries too hard for laughs and is filled with over the top action sequences. This aside, it is still worth going to see for Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Cruise's performance alone. The greatest war/comedy movie it might not be but it is a fun one.

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Widescreen 1.85:1 Anamorphic with a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, the transfer is good.

BONUS FEATURES

Filmmakers Commentary with Ben Stiller, Justin Theroux, Stuart Cornfeld, Jeff Mann, John Toll and Greg Hayden
The writer/director/star, writer, producers, cinematographer and editor provide a technical but fun commentary for 'Tropic Thunder'. With insights into how the film came about, key scenes, casting and much more, this is well worth a listen.

Cast Commentary with Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr.
The three main actors have a lot of fun with this commentary. Robert Downey Jr. stays in characters for most of it, Jack Black doesn't stop laughing and Ben Stiller tries to be serious about his film but just ends up joining in. This is a must listen to for fans and an excellent example of a fun commentary track.

Before the Thunder (4.52 mins)
Writer/Director/Actor Ben Stiller, producer Stuart Cornfeld, writer Justin Theroux and stars Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Jay Baruchel and Steve Coogan talk about how the movie came together.

The Hot LZ (6.25 mins)
Writer/Director/Actor Ben Stiller, producer Stuart Cornfeld, production designer Jeff Mann, stunt coordinator Brad Martin and stars Jack Black and Jay Baruchel take you behind the scenes of the opening sequence of 'Tropic Thunder'.

Blowing Shit Up (6.17 mins)
Writer/Director/Actor Ben Stiller, producer Stuart Cornfeld, production designer Jeff Mann, special effects supervisor Michael Meinardus and star Jay Baruchel talk about the explosions in the opening sequence and the bridge scene.

Designing the Thunder (7.30 mins)
Writer/Director/Actor Ben Stiller, producer Stuart Cornfeld, writer Justin Theroux, production designer Jeff Mann and stars Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Danny McBride and Nick Nolte talk about building the sets and filming in Kauai.

The Cast of Tropic Thunder (22.10 mins)
View video introductions to cast members Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Brandon T. Jackson, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride and Nick Nolte.

Rain of Madness (30.00 mins)
Documentary filmmaker Jan Jurgen (Justin Theroux) reveals what happened on the set of a Hollywood disaster. Looking into director Damien Cockburn's state of mind and how he lost all control on set, this is a fascinating documentary into what actually happened on 'Tropic Thunder'. Of course this is a classic piece of mockumentary filmmaking and just as funny, if not funnier than the film itself.

Dispatches from the edge of madness (23.04 mins)
Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Jan Jurgen introduces 'The Journey begins', 'Misinformed', 'Viet-Wham!', 'Hallowed ground', 'Goodbye, Gladys', 'Perception', Slaughterhouse Live', 'Clean & Sober', 'Location Scouts', 'Historically accurate' and 'P.P.S.D.'

Deleted Scenes/Extended Sequences/Alternate Ending
Entitled 'Water Buffalo Wrestling', 'Speedman unpacking this backpack', 'Snorkels', 'Eight minutes in hell' and 'alternate ending', these scenes are introduced by Ben Stiller and editor Greg Hayden.

Make-up test with Tom Cruise (1.36 mins)
With an introduction by Ben Stiller and editor Greg Hayden, see the first make-up test with Tom Cruise as he perfects his dancing technique.

MTV Movie Awards - Tropic Thunder (4.06 mins)
Watch Ben Stiller try and impress his nephew by recording a viral video with Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. for 'Tropic Thunder'

Full Mags (31.57 mins)
Entitled 'Cody at Bar', 'Portnoy tied to tree', 'Choose a dude' and 'Laz at camp fire', these are the full film magazine versions of the scenes, introduced by Ben Stiller and editor Greg Hayden.

Video Rehearsals (3.04 mins)
With an introduction by Ben Stiller and editor Greg Hayden, watch the rehearsals and the finished footage side by side.

Trailers
Previews of 'Eagle Eye', 'Watchmen' and 'Ghost Town'

OVERALL

The DVD treatment for 'Tropic Thunder' is exceptionally good. The mockumentary alone is a joy to watch but the rest of the material is also up to a very high standard. The commentaries are also first class and showcase what a fantastic package this is. Fans will be ecstatic.

DVD

Zoolander

---

The Usher Home | Hush, Hush... | The Big Story | The Usher Speaks

Stuck @ Home | Coming Soon | Links | Contact the Usher

2008