Tropic Thunder

What’s the Story?

Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller) is a fading action star desperately trying to reclaim Hollywood bankability in the Vietnam film-within-a-film TROPIC THUNDER. Joining Speedman on the Southeast Asia set are Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.), an Oscar winner who controversially darkens his skin to play an African-American soldier; scatological comedian/out-of-control drug addict Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black); savvy hip-hop-mogul-turned-actor Alpa Chino (Brandon T. Johnson); and nerdy film-school grad Kevin Sandusky (Jay Baruchel). When the overwhelmed, grossly over-budget director (Steve Coogan) realizes he's about to lose control of the movie, he concocts a last-ditch plan with the loopy Vietnam vet (Nick Nolte) whose memoir the movie is based on: Chopper the ensemble into the jungle with nothing but their uniforms and a map in hopes of capturing more intense performances. But soon after being deserted, the actors encounter the very real threat of armed heroin manufacturers, who mistake the fake army unit for American DEA agents.

Is It Any Good?

Writer-director-producer Stiller pokes witty fun at self-absorbed actors and greedy studios in this send-up of action-packed war dramas. Although it's darker and more violent than the much-seen trailer suggests, Tropic Thunder is bitingly funny and incredibly intelligent. Downey is especially brilliant as "the dude playing the dude disguised as another dude" -- a Method actor so caught up in the part he doesn't drop character between shots. Black has less to do as a junkie lowbrow comic, but Baruchel and Johnson shine as, respectively, the newcomer actor who actually read the entire script and the diversified rapper adding acting to his many revenue streams. It's remarkable that Stiller, unlike many actors who direct themselves, resisted the opportunity to focus on himself and instead allowed his ensemble of whip-smart actors with impeccable comedic timing to do their thing.

In a fabulous piece scenery chewing, a nearly unrecognizable Tom Cruise straps on a bald cap and a hairy fat suit to play repulsive studio head Les Grossman, the kind of obscenity-spewing tycoon who would sell his mother's soul to Satan for higher box-office grosses. He even tries to convince Speedman's loyal agent (Matthew McConaughey, who for once keeps his shirt on) to let Speedman die at the heroin gang's hands in exchange for a personal jet. Cruise and Downey are the hilarious highlights in one of this year's funniest films.