Film review: Tropic Thunder

Tropic Thunder @ IMDB

It's kinda weird to think how long Ben Stiller has been around now. It must be at least 10 years since There's Something About Mary and still he's around. As he's come up he's been followed by the Frat Pack, people like Will Ferrell, Jack Black, Owen Wilson and arguably the Judd Apatow stable.

He's also a director, the last film being Zoolander. Now, Zoolander was alright. I liked it but quite a few people I know didn't. It was fun.

His next film in the Director's chair is this, Tropic Thunder. And it's all kinds of good and no-one has argued with me yet.

The film is a (sort of) mocumentary following the filming of Tropic Thunder, a Vietnam film starring a has been action here (Stiller himself), an award winning actor (Robert Downey Jr) and a low brow comedian looking to broaden his range (Jack Black). Soon the filming falls apart and the Director decides to dump the actors in the jungle and secretly film them to enhance the realism. But isn't that a real gang of armed drug dealers about to cross their path? Uh-oh!

Satire wise, it's not that biting and only goes for easy targets. It nails those targets but they're still easy. Plot, whatever. The main point is this: is it funny?

Yes.

Downey Jr, as an Australian method actor who undergoes 'pigmentation alteration' in order to play a black character, is immense. He very nearly gets all the best lines and turns the normal lines into good lines. He casts a shadow over the other roles which does mean that some others get pushed to one side, mainly Jack Black's character. There is, however, someone who can stand up to Downey Jr in this film. His name?

Tom Cruise.

No matter what The Cruiser has done before, no matter what Scientology nonsensehe spouts, I will now always forgive him because of this film.

I have no problems with this film whatsoever: the pace is good, the jokes are funny and it has the best end credits ever. Seriously, best end credits ever. Just try to argue with me. You can't. Best ever.

In a word? Thunderous.