# Tropic Thunder - new Ben Stiller/Jack Black movie **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 4, 2007, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-thunder-new-ben-stiller-jack-black-movie/402823 "2007-05-04T23:00:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Von\_Erich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@Von\_Erich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Von_Erich)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2007, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-thunder-new-ben-stiller-jack-black-movie/402823/1 "2007-05-04T23:00:54Z")
Here is the article from the local paper. [Kauai Garden Island News](http://www.kauaiworld.com/articles/2007/05/04/news/news02.txt) Big budget comedy with an interesting plot starts filming here this summer. “Described as “a movie within a movie,” the film’s plot follows a group of actors who go on location to shoot “the greatest Vietnam war movie ever to be made,” when a series of freak events force the talent to become the soldiers they set out to portray.” ---
**Author:** ![mks57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@mks57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mks57)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-thunder-new-ben-stiller-jack-black-movie/402823/2 "2007-05-05T00:22:44Z")
I hope they change the title. It’s too similar to “Tropic Lightning”, the nickname of the Army’s 25th Infantry Division. I’m a veteran of that unit. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2007, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-thunder-new-ben-stiller-jack-black-movie/402823/3 "2007-05-05T00:29:08Z")
[QUOTE=mks57] It’s too similar to “Tropic Lightning”, the nickname of the Army’s 25th Infantry Division. [/QUOTE] It’s probably deliberate. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-thunder-new-ben-stiller-jack-black-movie/402823/4 "2008-08-12T03:34:56Z")
Bumping this thread because I usually find Ben Stiller ruins any celluloid within a ten mile radius… him and Owen Wilson both. But Robert Downey Jr. as a Black guy has me cracking up. I might even see this on opening night! Here’s the trailer: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XHsmRVYU-A](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XHsmRVYU-A) ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-thunder-new-ben-stiller-jack-black-movie/402823/5 "2008-08-12T10:37:22Z")
I liked _Envy_, more than I expected, so I’ll see this one. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-thunder-new-ben-stiller-jack-black-movie/402823/6 "2008-08-12T10:39:16Z")
Apparently, you should show up on time, there’s fake trailers at the beginning that are funny. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-thunder-new-ben-stiller-jack-black-movie/402823/7 "2008-08-12T11:43:41Z")
After seeing an ad for this the other day a friend of mine said that we’ll have to see it. I found this amusing because she can’t stand Jack Black or Robert Downey, Jr (we almost didn’t see _Iron Man_ because of this). I can’t remember offhand how she feels about Ben Stiller. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-thunder-new-ben-stiller-jack-black-movie/402823/8 "2008-08-12T20:19:38Z")
I’m seeing it tonight and really can’t wait… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![nd\_n8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/439d5e/32.png) [@nd\_n8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nd_n8)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-thunder-new-ben-stiller-jack-black-movie/402823/9 "2008-08-12T20:23:47Z")
The movie is already causing a stir: [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080812/ap\_en\_mo/film\_tropic\_thunder\_protest;\_ylt=AgDwGMDJn05TcffsxFPNWGhX24cA](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080812/ap_en_mo/film_tropic_thunder_protest;_ylt=AgDwGMDJn05TcffsxFPNWGhX24cA) So, Robert Downey Jr. in black face is not causing people to rise up in arms but calling Ben Stiller a retard is pissing people off. My but the times they are a’ changin’. _Note_ - the use of a disparaging term in this post is not intended in any way to be a slight against the mentally challenged community. Apologies in advance for refering to Ben Stiller as a retard, I realize that this cross-association could also be offensive to the differently abled. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-thunder-new-ben-stiller-jack-black-movie/402823/10 "2008-08-13T00:07:15Z")
[QUOTE=nd\_n8] So, Robert Downey Jr. in black face is not causing people to rise up in arms but calling Ben Stiller a retard is pissing people off. [/QUOTE] The filmmakers may have done a better job explaining the joke about Downey than the joke about Stiller. I heard months ago that Downey Jr. was playing a white actor playing a black guy, but I only heard yesterday that Stiller’s character is pretending to be retarded. And I can see where that tag line “Once upon a time … There was a retard” would get misinterpreted. I’m feeling a lot of trepidation about what’s going to happen, but I think I’m going to see this thing. I can’t stand Ben Stiller, but I like Downey Jr. and- I don’t know, I’m morbidly curious about what he’s doing. When I told my (actress) girlfriend about his role, she was intrigued too. So I think we’re doing this. ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-thunder-new-ben-stiller-jack-black-movie/402823/11 "2008-08-13T01:18:35Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] The filmmakers may have done a better job explaining the joke about Downey than the joke about Stiller. I heard months ago that Downey Jr. was playing a white actor playing a black guy, but I only heard yesterday that Stiller’s character is pretending to be retarded. And I can see where that tag line “Once upon a time … There was a retard” would get misinterpreted. I’m feeling a lot of trepidation about what’s going to happen, but I think I’m going to see this thing. I can’t stand Ben Stiller, but I like Downey Jr. and- I don’t know, I’m morbidly curious about what he’s doing. When I told my (actress) girlfriend about his role, she was intrigued too. So I think we’re doing this. [/QUOTE] Stiller isn’t pretending to be a ‘retard’. He is an actor who tried to get an Oscar playing a ‘retard’ ala _Forrest Gump_ and Tom Hanks. I really can’t wait to see this movie, myself. I LOVE me some Jack Black, I have always enjoyed Stiller and I want to see Robert Downey just go for it like it sounds he does. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-thunder-new-ben-stiller-jack-black-movie/402823/12 "2008-08-13T01:20:14Z")
[QUOTE=BrassyPhrase] Stiller isn’t pretending to be a ‘retard’. He is an actor who tried to get an Oscar playing a ‘retard’ ala _Forrest Gump_ and Tom Hanks. [/quote] I know. I get it. I’m just saying they have not publicized the idea as much as they have publicized the Downey-in-blackface idea, and that may be contributing to the greater outrage from disability advocates. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-thunder-new-ben-stiller-jack-black-movie/402823/13 "2008-08-13T01:46:23Z")
Ebert loved the film. Review [here](http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080811/REVIEWS/593221592/1023). Opens soon in Thailand, and we’re looking forward to it. ---
**Author:** ![zenith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zenith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zenith)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-thunder-new-ben-stiller-jack-black-movie/402823/14 "2008-08-13T02:42:00Z")
Most of these humorless professional slur counters know nothing of context. My sister has Down Syndrome and I don’t find the remarks offensive because they are being made by a buffoonish character and not someone whom we are to regard as serious or mainstream. It demeans the speaker more than it does the spoken-of. Hey, all you slur-counters, swear-word counters, instances-of-nudity counters, etc.; get away from the TV, computer, or movie house for a while and live life! Some of you moles wouldn’t know day from night, rainy from clear without Weather Channel or Weather Bug. Life is short! Leave counting things that offend you to a computer program or a trained monkey, whatever, and go out and live it! ---
**Author:** ![nd\_n8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/439d5e/32.png) [@nd\_n8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nd_n8)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-thunder-new-ben-stiller-jack-black-movie/402823/15 "2008-08-13T15:59:07Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] …And I can see where that tag line “Once upon a time … There was a retard” would get misinterpreted. [/QUOTE] As the opening line in a historical review of the first decade in the 21st century? Personally, although I think the premise of this film is kind of lame, I am really curious about it and about the public reaction to it. Considering the Imas and Michael Richards incidents and more recently the Jesse Jackson flub, I think that it will be interesting to see if something like this would be acceptable. Obviously something outrageously racial, like a blackfaced charactor steppin’ and fetchin’ and dragging us all back to the 19th century would be pounced on by the PC police and ripped to shreads. It will be interesting to see if the portrayel of a contemporary steriotype, and the (at least I hope) lampooning of not only that steriotype but of the exploitation film industry that produced it goes over as planned. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2008, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-thunder-new-ben-stiller-jack-black-movie/402823/16 "2008-08-13T17:53:07Z")
I thought it was hilarious–smart and consistently funny throughout, while still having action scenes that are well done without undermining the humor. It also may be one of the most beautiful comedies I’ve ever seen–John Toll’s cinematography is simply stunning (he won Oscars for _Braveheart_ and _Legends of the Fall_) and perfectly appropriate in successfully immersing you into the world (while still being just slightly over-the-top when necessary). In fact, the entire film is adept at lampooning the conventions and cinematic language of war and action films while also offering a very funny parody of industry politics (and the massive egos of producers, directors, and actors). Downey is terrific, but there’s no weak link in an essentially all-male cast (I can’t remember more than 3 speaking lines from all the female characters combined), plus there are some funny cameos–some of which I knew about beforehand and some of which came as a surprise. The film is decidedly un-PC, but I’m surprised that the protests are getting riled up about the fairly benign–in context–use of the “R-word” ( :rolleyes: ) when easily the most potentially offensive part of the film is Stiller’s actor character recreating, within the film, the Simple Jack character itself–I don’t want to give the essentials away. Not great-great, but probably the best and most consistent comedy of the year (neither the laughs nor the energy flag in the middle like so often happens now). I had a lot of fun and will probably go see it again. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-thunder-new-ben-stiller-jack-black-movie/402823/17 "2008-08-14T02:01:45Z")
I’m not a Ben Stiller fan, but I really enjoyed this movie. It has some great lines that I’m sure will be quoted as the thread proceeds. Here, I’ll start:\*“That’s like punching the American flag in the face!!” \* _“He’s a white dwarf getting sucked into a black hole. That’s physics!”_ ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-thunder-new-ben-stiller-jack-black-movie/402823/18 "2008-08-14T04:01:23Z")
Just got back and I really liked it. I agree with **ArchiveGuy** in that it wasn’t greatgreat, but it was a lot of fun. My favorite line was: “I’m a lead farmer motherfucker!” And my favorite part was: The director gave a big speech about how they were going to make this movie, turned around, stepped on something offscreen, said “Oh,” and blew up. I totally did not see that coming and kept laughing about it for the next several minutes. Especially with the stunned reactions of the actors then Jack Black yelling “Yeah!” ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-thunder-new-ben-stiller-jack-black-movie/402823/19 "2008-08-14T06:41:29Z")
Well I’ve got to say that this movie ranks up there with Eraserhead as one of the most completely random films I’ve seen. I suppose that there is something in the way of a story, but damn if it matters. 😃 Fun though! ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2008, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-thunder-new-ben-stiller-jack-black-movie/402823/20 "2008-08-14T09:17:23Z")
I am going to try to see it today after work. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tropic-thunder-new-ben-stiller-jack-black-movie/402823.md?page=2)