Tropic Thunder (DVD)

Overview Tropic Thunder is classified as a comedy (something I'd take issue with) starring Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. Review What plot there is revolves around the actually quite intriguing concept of a film within a film. The four main characters (Ben Stiller, Downey Jr, Jack Black and the guy not famous enough to be on the cover...) believe that they're being covertly filmed for the purpose of an action film while they blunder through a hostile Vietnamese jungle unaware that the danger they face is very real. Now this could set the stage for an interesting and amusing comedy and the names involved seem to inspire ...  Read the complete review

A few years ago, Ben Stiller wrote and directed Zoolander: a spoof of the fashion industry which met with indifference in cinemas, but became required viewing on DVD. That's reason enough to get excited about Stiller's new effort, Tropic Thunder - a spoof of Hollywood and its action heroes. Sadly, Tropic Thunder falls very firmly in the shadow of its predecessor. If Zoolander was Stiller's comedy Oscar, this is very much his comedy TV Quick Award - funny and enjoyable enough, but not destined to become a classic. Tropic Thunder's basic plot certainly sees plenty of opportunity for some top-notch spoof comedy. A group of soldiers shooting a true-life ...  Read the complete review

Just when you think Ben Stiller's sense of humour couldn't get any more 'out there', along he comes with Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr and a whole host of familiar names and faces to give us quite possibly the most random and enjoyably stupid war film since Hot Shots Part Deux made a mockery of everything war-like in the 1990s. Tropic Thunder is the latest in the offering from director, writer and actor Stiller, using his twisted talents in writing this mockery with Justin Theroux. The films start off in cinematic fashion, giving us trailers of future releases. However, these turn out to be hilarious trailers of make-believe films, from Stiller's character Tugg ...  Read the complete review

Ben Stiller is, undoubtedly, one of the top comic actors of our generation. Over the years I've enjoyed him in the Meet the Parents series, as well as the more obscure 'Zoolander' and many others. A number of his movies rely on the tag team efforts of a group of stars to carry the film, hence De Niro in Meet the Parents, or the hilarious Owen Wilson in 'Starsky and Hutch'; Stiller is at his best when he is supported by a strong cast. Imagine my delight, then, to see the roster on this movie: Robert Downey Junior, Jack Black and even Tom Cruise are all there to lift the movie up, and they do a cracking job. The basic plot is very tongue in cheek; a group of ...  Read the complete review

My girlfriend claims that she cannot sleep during the day... this was until we tried to watch Tropic Thunder one Sunday afternoon. Within the first 45 mins I could see the zzzz's coming from her. It is understandable as this film, as you may imagine from Ben Stiller, only appeals to certain people. She's not one of them, I'm not sure if I am either. Tropic Thunder is a satirical look at Hollywood with an all-star cast. Stiller stars alongside Jack Black and Robert Downey Jnr as three Hollywood stars in a Vietnam epic. Things are going badly with the film and the director (Steve Coogan) decides that the only way to get a real performance from his actors is to ...  Read the complete review