Uninspiring Stuff (Tropic Thunder (DVD))

Member Name: huggy2009

Product:	Tropic Thunder (DVD)
Date:	19/05/09 (5 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Coogan and Downey Jr are funny

Disadvantages: Stiller and Black aren't at all

This film starts really well with some inspired trailers which purport to show the stars of the film being shot within this film in some of their other flicks.

This is really funny and not representative of the film as a whole which lacks subtlety and never lets a funny line go by when a loud shout or funny face will do.

Whats it about:

The film is about a vietnam film being shot, the director has a selection of prima donna actors and decides the only way he can create any realism or drama for this high budget flop is to dump them in the jungle for real and film their reactions, this has unexpected consequences for the director (Steve Coogan) and brings out the hero in each of our heroic actors.

Whose in it:

Jeff Kahn ... Snooty Waiter - Fatties Trailer

Robert Downey Jr. ... Kirk Lazarus - Hot LZ
Anthony Ruivivar ... Platoon Sergeant Shot in Head - Hot LZ
Jack Black ... Jeff Portnoy - Hot LZ
Jay Baruchel ... Kevin Sandusky - Hot LZ
Brandon T. Jackson ... Alpa Chino - Hot LZ
Ben Stiller ... Tugg Speedman - Hot LZ
Eric Winzenried ... Chopper Pilot - Hot LZ
Steve Coogan ... Damien Cockburn - Vietnam Crew
Valerie Azlynn ... Damien's Assistant - Vietnam Crew
Matt Levin ... Cameraperson - Vietnam Crew
David Pressman ... First Assistant Director - Vietnam Crew
Amy Stiller ... Script Supervisor - Vietnam Crew
Danny McBride ... Cody - Vietnam Crew
Dempsey Silva ... Special Effects Assistant - Vietnam Crew


My views:

It wasn't a great film by any means, Stiller overacts as always, Jack Black shouts when subtlety would have been better, Steve Coogan is sickeningly under used and Robert Downey Jr is great but forced to rely on a silly joke about blacking his face up far too much. Tom Cruise is funny as an obnoxious studio exec and Matthew McConaughey pokes fun at himself too.

Overall the second half of the film left me bored, its too long and lacking convincing humour or drama, it just looks like a load of blokes playing at what they think is funny, its lazy rather than hilarious.

The DVD is available for £6.98 on Amazon and includes a funny MTV sketch, trailers and commentaries, its not great value as the film is pretty weak.

Summary: Yawn