Let me begin by saying that I'm usually not the greatest fan of Robert Downey jr. and Jack Black and never really cared much about Stiller either. Of course I knew that Downey was nominated for an Oscar for this one, but my expectations really weren't too high. Which definitely proved a great approach as I was completely surprised by how funny it all was. Of course, it's politically incorrect (drug addicts, gays, blacks, mentally disabled all get their fair share) all the time, but that was the basis for some of the best jokes this film delivered. Having grown into quite a fan of Steve Coogan recently, the first 25 minutes or so were the highlight for me. It went a bit down afterward, but was still really good. If it had stayed that way till the end, I may have given a rare perfect score even. Most of the supporting cast gave pretty decent performances as well, most of all Tom Cruise as a ruthless TV magnate or Nick Nolte and Bill Hader who made the most of the little he had to work with. Admittedly I'm not so sure how Cruise's performance holds up on rewatch as it was really more shock value than brilliant acting, but nonetheless his attention to detail created quite an iconic character.

I usually like motion pictures that can be described as "film on film" and if they have so many spoof references about famous movies, it can make for a damn fine watch. My favorites were for example the scene very early about the "death" of Stiller's character and Downey is right above him mourning. Completely hilarious. Another highlight were Jack Black's werewolf references, especially when he's tied and all the stuff he says to get somebody to free him and, last but not least, Stiller as Simple Jack. Okay, the final scene at the Oscars could have been funnier, but at least they got a nice cameo out of Jon Voight.

I would disagree with the Academy Awards that Downey was the big standout from the film and the only aspect worthy of a nomination. It was an incredibly smart and, on many occasions, hilarious screenplay and included an ensemble cast performance that did it justice. Very much recommended and easily one of the best comedies, if not films, from 2008.

Though the satire is heavy handed at times, there is still enough to get some really good laughs from Tropic Thunder, Ben Stiller and Justin Theroux's salute to blood and guts war films.

I think Stiller and Theroux got their idea for this film from The Three Amigos. If you'll remember three Hollywood silent western stars are transported to Mexico which if you'll remember was in one anarchic state during the teen years of the last century.

What we have here is a few actors who are doing a Vietnam War movie in Vietnam giving the director and producer all kinds of grief with their various hangups. What to do is set them down in total isolation in the jungle with cameras and explosive devices.

Unfortunately that part of the jungle is now the turf of some nasty drug dealers who are intrepid actors have to do some real battle with. Especially after they capture one of them, Ben Stiller, and the ransom they demand from the producers ain't forthcoming.

The best gag in the film is Tom Cruise and the hilarious portrayal he gives in an unbilled role. I can't say more because that is the whole point of the joke.

Tropic Thunder could have stood some improvement, but I laughed pretty good in the theater. The film is also politically incorrect as all get out as you will discover in Robert Downey, Jr.'s part.

A group of idiotic spoiled actors are on location in Southeast Asia in order to make a war film. However, the project is running amok and the director has no control over the actors. Finally, in desperation, he takes just the actors, writer and special effects man into the jungle and dumps them--forcing them to act without the entourages, cell phones and the like. However, shortly after he does this, the group wanders into a real war zone and it takes some time for the hapless actors to realize the shooting is real as well as to get out alive.

I found much of the first 30 minutes or so of TROPIC THUNDER to be highly offensive but also clever, as the audience gets inside into the behind the scenes aspects of making a film. The language was unbearably crude as the film makers seemed to think that screaming long strings of obscenities was funny, but at least the idea of showing a problem movie being made was reasonably clever. However, after this decent (but crude) setup, the film floundered as it seemed to be pure formula. In other words, despite being set in the jungles of Southeast Asia, the audience knew exactly what would happen because this type of film has been made again and again. They knew that the group of idiot actors would somehow get it together and become a cohesive group--like REMEMBER THE TITANS and so many other films. And, they also knew that despite 100,000 live bullets supposedly being shot at our group, no one would die or even suffer a significant injury!! And, by the end of the film, all the actors will have resolved their life issues in the process--the gay guy coming to grips with being gay, the chameleon-like actor realizing he has no idea who he really is any more and the lousy actor finally getting it together and earning that Oscar. Puh-leeze!!

So, really, apart from a few jokes here and there and some interesting interplay between Robert Downey and Ben Stiller as two nutty method actors, this movie offered nothing that wasn't predictable--just film cliché after film cliché. Frankly, when all was said and done, I felt a bit gypped--I wanted a film that took risks and tried to be something more than just another buddy film. Apart from a couple prosthetic arms on Nick Nolte and black-face makeup on Robert Downey, I just felt the film was the same old Hollywood film formula recycled yet again--with a bit of RAMBO II thrown in to boot. Plus, to cap it off, some of the performances (like the one-note film exec ridiculously overplayed by Tom Cruise) were just awful.

How could this film have made so much money?! It's got a few good moments but also abounds with clichés.