(I guess this is what happens when AMERICA'S SWEETHEARTS gets gang-banged by DELIVERANCE, PLATOON, and THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY - and the resulting baby is delivered by an Asian crack whore)
CAST: Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black, Matthew McConaughey, Jay Baruchel, Tom Cruise, Danny McBride..
DIRECTOR: Ben Stiller
WARNING: SPOILERS and Hollywood whackjobs straight ahead.
I usually begin these reviews with a certifiably insane breakdown of the film under scrutiny, placing the plot and characters under a cracked (literally and figuratively) microscope. The latest film, however, is already certifiably insane and figuratively cracked as it is. A politically-incorrect, thoroughly-unforgiving, and viciously hilarious account of what happens when a film project on location in Cambodia threatens to get shut down by the antsy studio because of budget overruns, bickering actors, psychotic crew members, and a skittish director collapsing under the pressure of his first high-profile project, the movie is called TROPIC THUNDER. And it is already more whacked out of its gourd than I could ever make it out to be. So... in an inversion of the usual format of these reviews, I shall present TROPIC THUNDER - as if it were a dead serious dramatic thriller. Yes, you read that right. Let's begin, shall we?
Our provocative drama opens in Cambodia, were a major Hollywood production, TROPIC THUNDER, is being helmed by Simon Cockburn, a British director who is unsure if he has what it takes to complete his first major Hollywood assignment. Problems include, but are not limited to: (1) A cast of unruly actors, (2) a crew that seems rather unequal to their tasks, and (3) budget overruns exacerbated further by a major special effects shot that is executed before the cameras are ready to capture it. Rendered churlish by this unfortunate turn of events, the actors get even more ill-tempered. They include: (1) Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller), a Tom Cruise-clone known for his mega-budget films that revolve around global warming and rogue Ice Ages, but whose latest tear-jerker about a mentally-impaired farm hand failed miserably at the box-office; (2) Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black), a comedian whose scatologically-themed comedies have been hits - but whose rambunctious off-screen antics have not; (3) Alpha Chino (Brandon T. Johnson), an African-American rapper who is making his big-screen crossover, and who harbors a huge secret - he is homosexual; (4) Kevin Sandusky (Jay Baruchel), an up-and-coming actor who epitomizes wholesomeness and is easily the least experienced among them, (5) and - last but most definitely not the least - Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey, Jr.) a mercurial Australian mega-star known for his temper and willingness to do anything to capture the authenticity of a role - such as undergoing a controversial medical treatment that turns his appearance to that of an African-American.
Meanwhile, back in Los Angeles, several key players in the industry are growing concerned over the production problems. First, we have Tugg's agent (Matthew McConaughey) who is fiercely loyal and dedicated to ensuring his # 1 client is taken care of. Next is Les Grossman (Tom Cruise), the head of the studio bankrolling TROPIC THUNDER. Grossman is perturbed that Cockburn can't seem to get the production under control - and threatens him with firing if he can't bring his cast and crew under control. Desperate for a solution, Cockburn determines to save his project - by luring his main cast members into an isolated part of the jungle, where he will secretly film the with hidden cameras as they are terrorized by special effect gunfire and explosions hidden in the jungle. He hopes that the resulting project will be raw and gritty and groundbreaking. The following day, Cockburn and a small crew fly Speedman, Lazarus, Sandusky, Portnoy, and Chino out into the Cambodian jungle to release them into the wild - and fend for themselves as the cameras secretly roll.
Unfortunately, little do they know that a Cambodian drug ring is operating in the area, and they don't take kindly to the Hollywood visitors. What follows is a tense, exciting, and gripping thriller that unfolds at a kinetic pace. The various stars quickly realize that the enemies stalking them in the woods are dead real - and not the creation of some special effects crew. Increasingly desperate, they find no choice but to set aside their petty disagreements and trivial dislikes of one another - to band together to not only overcome the drug runners, but also to ultimately redeem TROPIC THUNDER. And themselves.... (sniffle).
BUT, SARDONICALLY: Oh who am I fucking kidding? TROPIC THUNDER is to serious action thrillers the way THE HAUNTING remake was to serious horror films. And unlike THE HAUNTING, TROPIC THUNDER is intentionally funny. For me, watching TROPIC THUNDER was like meeting someone who is just as utterly fucked up as yours truly. In other words - a soulmate. There are times when you're watching this flick that you find yourself wondering with horrified curiosity whether or not they're going to go there - only to revel in horrified glee that they: (1) not only went there, but also (2) built a condominium complex with (3) an awesome pool, and (4) threw a big-ass pool party with plenty of nekkid people. The beauty of TROPIC THUNDER is that it doesn't really care who it "offends." I put that in "quotes" because TROPIC THUNDER would only be offensive to those who live under a rock. Because you can't really be offended by something that has the ring of truth, right? In that regard, TROPIC THUNDER is like SOUTH PARK - only more in your face because it's not animated.
The cast is stellar and can all be praised uniformly as "excellent." The standout, though, is Downey as Kirk Lazarus, whose in-character shenanigans are priceless. In a smaller, but no less hilarious, role Tom Cruise almost steals the show as Less Grossman. Sporting a bald cap and prosthetic gut and forearms, Grossman is a bizarre and hypnotic spectacle. Cruise's bravura turn here instantly won him some serious "good will" points, and rightfully so. On an unfortunate side note, Cruise is apparently planning a full-length feature based on the character, which is about as wise a career move as almost creating a franchise around Halley Berry's character from DIE ANOTHER DAY. Tom, let it go. You did a great job. Don't push it.
But back to TROPIC THUNDER... it's secret weapon isn't its raunchy humor or talented cast, but the fact that the script has some real wit and intelligence behind it. Without those brains, this would have been like a Southeast Asian version of AIRPLANE. In other words, average at best. Instead, it's as sublime as a comedy with a half-naked Jack Black strapped to an Asian water buffalo can possibly get.
