Tropic Thunder (DVD, 2008, Sensormatic Packaging)

It's hard to really capture the essence of this "terribly," good movie. It's hardcore, adult comedy like on the comedy circuit except it's in the form of a full length feature film with special effects. The dialogue is raw and rough like straight out of the R-Rated Las Vegas comedy strip. I really do enjoy Stiller's sense of humor, but until now I really thought that he wasn't capable of making a complete film. Usually the humor dies out half way through, the plot becomes boring, and I just want the film to end - having not regretted seeing the first half.

Director Ben Stiller generates amazing performances from his lead actors including himself, Jack Black, Downey, Brandon T. Jackson, and Nick Nolte. Jack Black especially stuck out to me as having done excellent in this film, very convincingly (read: amusingly) portraying a drug addict going through withdrawal. Ben Stiller was good too, but he didn't really seem to stick out as extraordinary. Robert Downey Jr. stole the show as I expected, with his character being a hilariously confused actor stuck in all the roles he had played. But the surprises are the big name supporting actors like Matthew McConaughey as Tugg's agent Rick Peck and of course Tom Cruise.

While this new film doesn't achieve anything "great" it is, finally, a complete film that succeeds from beginning to end. the direction was obviously open ended enough to get a lot of good work out of the actors... the plot, while not spectacular, provides a good vehicle for the humor from beginning to end. As a satire the film succeeds better in some areas than in others... near the end there are some particularly difficult scenes that are reminiscent of "Apocalypse Now" "Platoon" and "The Prisoner" that actually succeed somewhat. It is in this area that I find that most modern comedies fail completely, but Stiller and Co. manage to pull it off - just enough.

"Tropic Thunder" will offend virtually everyone. Stiller and crew have written bold biting comedy blind to elements of conventional taste that mercilessly mocks the egos at play in the world of celebrity and entertainment. If you like this film, I also recommend "The Party" as they are very similar in some ways (though The Party is more subtle) and I can't help but think that "The Party" was a bit of an inspiration for this film.