We’re starting a new feature on PopWatch: Every Monday, you’ll find a post where you can dissect the weekend’s most notable film release with others who braved the crowds (cell phones, crying babies, etc.) to see it as well. The discussion will always start after the jump, so you can speak freely. Translation: Spoiler-phobes, stop here.
We begin with weekend box office champ, Tropic Thunder…
EW critic Lisa Schwarzbaum referred to Tropic Thunder as "the very best and funniest" of Ben Stiller’s oeuvre, and I’m prepared to follow her there. Those opening trailers gave us all the backstory we needed on the "actors" — and honestly, the preview for Satan’s Alley (pictured), featuring MTV Movie Award Best Kiss winner Tobey Maguire, was my favorite part of the film.
As for the disability advocacy groups who protested at the movie’s premiere over its repeated use of the word retard, I agree with costar Jack Black, who told EW.com that he believed the groups would understand that the Simple Jack joke wasn’t on them if they watched the film. (It’s on the actors who think a certain type of role is a surefire Oscar winner.)
In the end, the only thing that may have actually made some audience members uncomfortable was their willingness to laugh at Tom Cruise. Though some people applauded for him during the credits in my showing, a friend of mine refused to admit that his turn as the hip-hop loving film producer made her like him again — because she thinks it was a strategic move designed to do just that. Does it matter?
Your turn. Share your praise (could Robert Downey Jr. be looking at a supporting actor Oscar nom?) and your gripes below.
Comments (1-30) of 51 Add your comment
Saw it yesterday. My favorite of the 3 leads is Jack Black, but even I can admit that his character was a complete waste of space. Not very funny in this one (although he did have the best line of the movie, IMO… while he was tied to the tree, trying to get Alpa Chino to untie him. If you’ve seen it, you know what I’m talking about). Downey was awesome, as everyone has said- but Oscar? That’s a bit too much I think. Tom Cruise was the highlight, because he really nailed the part- his cussing/screaming was HILARIOUS! Although I don’t think the makeup hid who he was… it seemed obvious to everyone that he was Tom. However, the dancing was over-the-top, and nobody in my theater laughed at his dancing at the end. I like Ben Stiller, but I think this movie was a bit uneven and overrated. Many funny parts, many unfunny parts. The trailers at the beginning were awesome though.
This movie was so funny, and Robert Downey Jr. was fabulous in it. He really gets into his roles which just makes me like him so much more. you could see all the differences and the real RDJ never came through, which was great! His Osiris was noticeably different from Kurt, unlike Stiller who i feel still plays the same role in every movie. I thought he was funny in this, but maybe it’s because his turn as Tony Perkis in ‘Heavyweights’ is my favorite role of his. Tom Cruise was lame, it was obvious what he was trying to do and his dance moves weren’t that sweet. Matthew M. was good but Owen Wilson would have been better!
There’s some great audio from the movie up here: http://www.entertonement.com/collections/1619/Tropic-Thunder
Saw it and loved it. Laughed a lot, which is always a good sign. RDJ was great. And just how he never broke character. Fave moments for me: “Never go full retard.” When Tugg is running across the bridge with the boy on his back and you’re thinking “Oh, he’s saving his ’son’!” and then you notice the kid is repeatedly stabbing him. And the Tobey Maguire, “Winner of Best Kiss at the MTV Movie Awards” bit. Excellent Hollywood spoof.
I keep reading how great Danny McBride is and how big he’s gonna be, Will Ferrell apparently thinks he’s awesome, but I was underwhelmed. Maybe he’s better in other stuff.
McConaughey looked like crap, but he was kinda funny.
Thought Tom Cruise’s cameo would have been best served as a one-off thing. Show him once, show the dancing once. To have him dance over the end credits was beyond annoying, and just not funny anymore. Less is more.
I so sad about this: I didn’t laugh once. Not once. I so wanted to love it. Nick Nolte! Steve Coogan! That kid from Freaks and Geeks! But every joke fell flat. The things they parodied had long been parodied before (movie trailers, rappers, war movies) and better. I’m not being mean spirited, cause I think they are all really talented guys. I just wish it had been better.
Several funny things about the movie: Satan’s Alley, Jack Black coming down from heroin, “How do we cover him?”, and everything Robert Downey Jr did. Brandon T Jackson was also great. Ben Stiller does tend to go over the top…for example, the panda head, and Simple Jack..it was a bit much. But, it was all balanced out because it wasn’t just about his character. I wish I hadn’t read so much about the Tom Cruise cameo beforehand..it would have been funnier.
I didn’t hear the news about Cruise beforehand so it was a funny surprise for me- I too hate him but this role soften it. RDJ was great and the Enigma song in the background of his trailer was a nice touch- I could really see that as a trailer!
NO SPOILERS!!!
Wait, where am I?
Danny McBride had my favorite line…something like “I don’t know what this is called. I just know the sound it makes when you lie.” LOL.
Also, kudos to Jay Baruchel for playing such a great straight man.
I thought this movie was fantastic! I laughed and laughed, particularly at the end with Ben Stiller running with his “adopted child” stabbing him in the back. Oh, the irony! And I’m absolutely head-over-heels in love w/ Robert Downey Jr. After Iron Man earlier in the summer he is by favorite thing about Summer 2008. My favorite part of the movie has to be the trailers at the beginning if only because half of the audience in my viewing didn’t know what was going on and it was hysterical! I would see Satan’s Alley in a heartbeat. And as much as I’d like to give Tom Cruise a good punch in the face his turn in this movie had to make you laugh. I don’t know if it redeemed him in my eyes but it sure made me think back to when he was good (i.e. Magnolia). If it was a strategic move, well played Tom Cruise, this round goes to you.
I’m not normally the biggest fan of Ben Stiller’s movies (in fact, I kind of loathe them), but I went to see this one because of RDJ.
I laughed so hard I cried for most of the movie, starting from the fake trailers right down to the idiocy of Tom Cruise’s extended lunatic dance mix at the end. That joke may have overstayed its welcome, but I was still cracking up. Mission accomplished, Mr. Cruise – I had to keep reminding myself that you’re a total nutbar in order to keep from thinking “Aw, he’s not all that bad” every time you had me in stitches. (Seriously: this proves he’s a master manipulator, and I’m both impressed and horrified by how much this is going to help his career…)
While I loved Matthew McConaughey in this and I thought it was a good part for him, is there any other reason that he was cast, aside from the fact that he looks like Owen Wilson?
And jimiklane – I agree. That line while he was tied to the tree was fantastic. As was “total retard”. Heh.
I kept picturing Owen Wilson in all of Matthew M’s scenes and feeling a little sad. He would have been hilarious. I enjoyed the movie a lot, but didn’t love it. My favorite bit was also Robert Downey Jr.’s trailer.
Loved, loved, loved the movie! It would have been perfect except I wish Owen Wilson was able to keep his part as Tugg’s agent/best friend. It would have made more sense considering Stiller and he are best friends in real life. A+++++
I saw it with no intention of enjoying the film… was dragged by hubby & friend. I’ve been disappointed in Stiller off & on, but I really got a kick out of this film. I DID love Tom C in this movie (wanted to hate him, but couldn’t stop laughing). My favorite bits were the early trailers, anything with Danny M., Jay B, or interaction between RDJ and Brandon J. My hubby & his friend enjoyed the movie even more than I did… I don’t think they stopped laughing.
This movie was ok, but it could have been funnier. A few of the jokes and gags made me laugh at first, but as the movie went on, they got kind of lame. To me, Ben Stiller’s schtick has gotten old…. when is he going to do a movie role when he’s not playing the same type of funny person?
RDJ gave the best performance of the film… and that Danny McBride… funny! His lines were the ones I totally laughed at.
Oh yeah, and as much as I enjoyed Tom Cruise’s dancing at the end and a few of his lines during the film (not all of them were funny), he hasn’t really redeemed himself in my book. He’s been on my bad side since he 1) left Nicole Kidman and 2) made Vanilla Sky. Ugh!
LOVED the fake previews, if Satans Alley was a real movie you know someone would be screaming Oscar. Sadly that’s about the best I can say about it. I have a serious dislik/hatred for Tom Cruise and this role just cemented what I think this dude is like in real life. Didn’t laugh once during his cameo. Tobbie McGuire on the other hand had me rolling in the isles, and I’m not his biggest fan. I personally gave the movie a B, but that’s just me
The trailers were a brilliant touch. Booty Sweat and Bust A Nut hit the nail on the head. And I couldn’t stop laughing at Mr. Cruise, he needs to do more roles like this.
I think the discussion should include any film that opens over the weekend, not just the movie with the highest profile. Most of the ‘biggest’ movies are awful and made for teenage boys(If this started 2 weeks ago we would be talking about The Mummy 3?)
Anyways, Why don’t we talk about a much better film, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, rather than Crappic Thunder!! Woodys best film since Match Point in my opinion. Penelope Cruz is sensational and Scarlett is hot as always. So — who saw it?
To Chris: Because not everyone goes to see a Woody Allen film as his movies are just not entertaining anymore. They’re filled with whiny people doing whiny things and I hear enough whining in real life that I don’t want to hear it in my movies. As for TT, I saw it yesterday and loved it. Personally, I loved the beginning previews but my favorite part was when RDJ played the rice paddy farmer. “I’m a lead farmer…” He took sexy to a whole new level for me!
RDJ made the movie, he was perfect in every scene he did. And Jay Baruchel was also great, I really enjoyed his character more than I thought I would.
The trailers were by far the best (and only entertaining) parts of the film. It all went steeply downhill from there. It was filled with obvious in-jokes that were less insightful than thirty seconds of that crap show “Entourage.” And Tom Cruise? Much ado about nothing (especially the inexplicable, out of character dancing). Hated. It.
TT is a classic. The best comedy in years. Funny, smart, gutsy and hysterical. Pure awesomeness. RDJ deserve the Oscar for what he’s doing in this movie.
I thought the trailers at the beginning were hilarious, but I was underwhelmed by the rest of the movie. I didn’t think Tom was that funny and his dancing was just weird. RDJ was hilarious, but I think zoolander was better than this. This will be the last R rated comedy I will see for a long time. It’s like they think that by adding the f word and disgusting and unfunny sexual references they can make a movie “edgy”. Not quite.
I saw this film with a friend and we both agree that “Satan’s Alley” could work as a feature.
The film can be seen as a comeback for Tom Cruise. Don’t be afraid to enjoy it and him. It also made me glad to see Matthew McConaughey in a good film for once.
I can see RDJ being nominated in both Golden Globe catergories – best comedy and best drama (for this & Iron Man)— and let’s face it, thanks to this movie, Eddie Murphy will prob never put on another fat suit!!!
I think the movie was off the chain…..off the the sheezy, whatever you want to call it. RDJ was funny as hell, all his lines were funny, but my favorite line was ” I’m Lead Farmer muthaf****** ” followed by the two machine guns…….that was like scarface shouting ‘ Say Hello to my little friend!”
Danny McBride as a Pyromaniac. The interaction with Nick Nolte’s Four leaf was stuff of legends and hilarious!
I was feeling uncomfortable for Tom Cruise at first but he was able to handle his own. The credits were so original and the freeze…animate…dancing did the trick for me.
I think RDJ should get an Oscar for his part….He got everything right From “Pump your breaks Kid, That man’s a National treasure” To ” I beat I could collar up some of them greens noodle some crawfish out the patty, yo”
Matthew M. as the agent! I like him but he was out of place.
I loved Tropic Thunder – the trailers at the beginning were hilarious and yes the Satan’s Alley one was the best of the three…when Tobey went for the rosary beads I knew this was going to be a great movie (nevermind that I am a big fan of RDJ). In no way were the reputations of the handicapped harmed in the making of this movie and I think those protesting should go watch it before speaking against it. Jack Black had me on the floor while tied to the tree…and Stiller was golden – especially when he went a little nuts on his own (panda is all I will say) – the chemistry between Downey and Jackson was great and kept Downey’s role grounded. Downey was fantastic – his talent from smoothly moving from one charachter to the next is wonderful. Everybody did a great job on this and Cruise, whether intended or not, definitly got back into my favor with his cameo scenes especially the one at the end. I have a dark sense of humor and this fit the bill and gave me a great laugh.
I have a child with Asperger’s Syndrome (high functioning autism). I don’t have a problem with the use of the word ‘retard’ if it actually is making fun of the actors, not the handicapped. I do, however, have a big problem with Tom Cruise. My child would not be alive right now without the help of psychiatrists and medicine, and I have a great deal of difficulty seeing Mr. Cruise in a positive light anymore because of his advocacy against such things. His appearance in any film takes me right out of the movie and makes me angry – he is very lucky that no one in his family needs such help, but how dare he proclaim that my child can be helped by exercise and vitamins! I am not sure if I will see this movie because he is in it. I loved Zoolander and Dodgeball, but I don’t want to give Mr. Cruise any money.
I saw this at a preview screening last monday and I cried from laughter. Loved it all apart from TC dancing at the end. That was overkill for me. They should have just left it at him basking in the glory of all the oscars. RDJ was phenomenal. Loved the way he broke down oscar wins/noms. It totally made sense why Sean Penn didn’t win for I Am Sam.