Ok yes, it’s another movie review because it was so hot in Seattle that I had to escape into cold dark air conditioned caves to get my laugh on.
So, remember how I was just like “bah: action/comedy!” I take it all back! Tropic Thunder was fucking HILARIOUS, and I laughed so loud and so hard through the entire thing that I think there were points when other people in the theater were laughing at the fact that 30 seconds after a gag, I’d still be cracking up.
I’m not a big Ben Stiller fan, but oh man: I loved this movie. Hilariously written, awesome cast (Robert Downey Jr of course killed it, but how much do I love that little Jay Baruchel?), gorgeous locations (yay Kuai!), great cameos, all just fucking hilarious.
So very recommended.
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6 Responses to “Tropic Thunder: now THAT’S action/comedy”
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Hey there. I'm Ariel Meadow Stallings, a native Seattleite who's written my way up and down the Left Coast. Electrolicious is where I post daily randomata, but I also write for a living. My first book, Offbeat Bride, was published last year.
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robin
August 18th, 2008 at 11:19 am
what do you make of the people upset at the (reportedly excessive) use of the word “retard” in the movie? there have been a couple articles in the Washington Post about it, one by a woman with a developmentally disabled sister, who says that the word is always hurtful, even if the user means it ironically … I haven’t seen the movie yet so I can’t comment yet, but that article gave me pause.
Ariel
August 18th, 2008 at 11:25 am
I’ll allow the SF Chronicle to answer that question:
One of the best pieces of satire involves Speedman’s ill-fated starring role in a movie called “Simple Jack.” The jokes are clearly set up to make fun of actors who play mentally disabled characters in an attempt get Oscars, not the disabled people themselves. Several advocacy groups have asked moviegoers to boycott “Tropic Thunder.” But if anything, it seems as if they should be protesting “Forrest Gump.”
tlc
August 18th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
I thought it was light on plot but funny. I’ll see anything with RDJ in it.
Jack
August 18th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
I love love loved this movie. Wow.
Being a person who understands a little Mandarin Chinese, it was hilarious to hear RDJ speak TERRIBLE Chinese whilst still using his gruff, stereotypical African American accent. It was probably an accident on his part but I laughed until I cried.
jenks
August 18th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
can you imagine what those table readings must have been like?
or the process of coming up with that script!
kaikunane
August 21st, 2008 at 2:22 pm
thanks for the review, was on the fence about watching another Ben Stiller movie after “The Heartbreak Kid”, but now will probably give it a shot.