Monday Movie Club: 'Tropic Thunder' react

April Mon, Aug 25, 2008 at 11:36 AM EST

I know I'm late on this one but this movie was great. I'm not a fan of Stiller's humor but the supporting cast owned this film - mostly RDJ. I think he should be nominated too.

I thought Tom Cruise early on during the conference call was enough but he kept coming back onto the screen. There was way too much of him.

s8 Sat, Aug 23, 2008 at 12:03 PM EST

Great movie. Give RDJ an oscar!

Jan Wed, Aug 20, 2008 at 09:41 AM EST

Not much into comedy but must say I had a great time - loved everyone in it and commend all the actors for great acting.

Good to see Matt McConaughey in a good role, it has been a while, as well as RDJ. My favourite was TC - it reminds me of what a fantastic actor he is. Would be happy to see the movie again.
Congratulations to Stiller for producing such a comedy. You feel the theatre feeling good.

Jan

Vince Tue, Aug 19, 2008 at 07:06 PM EST

I think people need to lighten up too. Yeah Michael I saw the trailer to Everybody Wants to be Italian too. I thought it looked good plus their site has some cool things on it. It was at http://www.everybodywantstobeitalian.com/

R.O.B. Tue, Aug 19, 2008 at 06:55 PM EST

And by the way, what has the world come to that comedy can't focus on shortcomings anymore? I was made fun of all through highschool and I wasn't fat or retarded, I was just a dork. Everyone - overweight, underweight, intellectually challenged, mormom - needs to lighten up, laugh a little, and just wait for the day when you can have your revenge on the unsuspecting bastards.

R.O.B. Tue, Aug 19, 2008 at 06:43 PM EST

[spoiler]Loved how Stiller comes running onto the bridge in a rush of gunfire with his "son" on his back and when you look closer, the kid is stabbing him in the back relentlessly. Hilarious. And Tom Cruise was awesome. I don't care how much of a whackjob he is in real life, he is a great actor, and at least he doesn't constantly spout off about politics like every other celebrity.

Michael Tue, Aug 19, 2008 at 06:28 PM EST

I thought it was hit and miss. But the hits were so funny they made up for most of the misses. Robert Downey Jr. was great, but I liked Danny McBride in Pineapple Express. Now I can't wait for The Rocker and Everybody Wants to be Italian. I didn't know about that one, but saw a trailer before the movie. Anyway, good job Stiller.

coco Tue, Aug 19, 2008 at 01:37 PM EST

tom cruise was awful in this! didnt laugh once when he was on screen. he just came off as so desparate to be edgy and funny, it was pathetic.
but everything else was pretty good. can't touch zoolander though.

tori Tue, Aug 19, 2008 at 12:11 PM EST

I enjoyed the movie, but not as much as I thought I would. I originally wasn't too keen on seeing it, but with EW's A review, I thought I'd give it a shot, but I was kind of disappointed. I agree with everyone in that the trailers were funnier than the movie itself & I loved RDJ, but the rest of it was just a normal Ben Stiller comedy & I'm not a huge fan of those. oh & Jay Baruchel was great too, very underrated. as for the Tom Cruise cameo, I enjoyed it, but I didn't think he was amazing enough to be redeemed. I'd give it a B. both this movie & Pineapple Express were disappointing to me - I didn't laugh as much as I wanted to

harry Tue, Aug 19, 2008 at 12:01 PM EST

Tom Cruise the big bad wins again. I love it.

mark in nyc Tue, Aug 19, 2008 at 11:59 AM EST

easily the funniest comedy in years. Most other comedies are funny for the firs act, drag in the second, then you just wait for the end.
I will be seeing this again.
Yes, RDJ should get an oscar nod for this role...you look ripped..you got any tips? you know tips to get ripped?

akzombie Tue, Aug 19, 2008 at 11:56 AM EST

I loathe Tom Cruise, no doubt about it. What I thought was hilarious was he actually had a line, in reference to Ben Stiller's character that refered to Tugg as "a white dwarf, becoming a black hole," and I'm thinking, 'someone's not very self-aware, huh?' I mean, hey, Pot? This is Kettle, man . . . I thought he was friends with Ben Stiller! Loved the rest of the movie though - I'd pay to see it again.

Ames Tue, Aug 19, 2008 at 09:57 AM EST

I wanted to like TT more than I did, and I wanted to laugh more than I did. The middle lagged a bit. Still, every time RDJ was onscreen, the movie was alive again. He got the best lines and the best fake movie trailer at the beginning.

As everyone else has said, protests were totally unfounded. Nothing in the movie targeted anyone other than the actors involved.

Bruce Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 11:10 PM EST

It was OK. Really, it was Volunteers meets Ishtar.

Jae Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 08:34 PM EST

My friends and I laughed like crazy during that movie. Just wanted to say, as an african am, I thought Downey was hilarious and not at all offensive. I think TT was the funniest movie I have seen in ages. And Tom Cruise was amusing. I have been bleh about him since he went off like an idiot on Brooke Shields and revealed himself to be a cultist nutcase( nothing against Scientolgy but that is how he came off). I thought all the actors involved in the movie did great jobs.

wendy Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 08:32 PM EST

Well things have gone backwards since Mel Brooks and Norman Lear and Monty Python where huge. Thats what I grew up with and so did Ben Stiller and his buddies. Not the best movie I've seen but all the protest and freaking out is a waste of time. The joke was clearly made of the Hollywood idiots they portrayed. RDJ = MVP!

EPro Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 07:48 PM EST

I didn't find Tom Cruise that funny at all. I laughed at the dancing, just for the sheer absurdity of it, but it did get old during the credits. Tobey Maguire's cameo was executed better, not to mention *way* funnier. Overall, I thought the movie was hilarious and did not disappoint. Lastly, isn't it time for America to embrace Steve Coogan?!

William Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 07:38 PM EST

For me, this is one of the funniest movies of all time. Twenty-five years from now people will still be laughing at the performances given in this picture. Side note: As my daughter has not found the need to take meds or visit a psychiatrist (thank God) I found it easy to laugh at TC.

Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 07:22 PM EST

Please lets keep light and funny....no politics for once!

Jay not the other Jay Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 07:22 PM EST

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.

lammie Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 07:18 PM EST

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.

Kristin Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 07:15 PM EST

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.

jay Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 07:11 PM EST

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.

kim in kentucky Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 07:11 PM EST

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!!!

Rebel_Joo Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 07:00 PM EST

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.

Kari Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 06:13 PM EST

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.

Ben Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 06:10 PM EST

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.

Lola Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 05:55 PM EST

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.

Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 05:32 PM EST

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.

Cricket Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 05:20 PM EST

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!

chris Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 04:54 PM EST

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?

ceecee Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 02:55 PM EST

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.

Sophia Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 02:41 PM EST

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

GeeMoney Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 02:37 PM EST

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!

GeeMoney Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 02:35 PM EST

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.

JKBopinion Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 02:32 PM EST

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.

Ronda Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 02:25 PM EST

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+++++

Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 02:24 PM EST

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.

lawyergirl77 Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 02:00 PM EST

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.

Rachel K Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 01:38 PM EST

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.

J.B. Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 01:35 PM EST

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.

Dan Daoust Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 01:19 PM EST

NO SPOILERS!!!

Wait, where am I?

lala1215 Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 01:04 PM EST

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!

Nose Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 12:56 PM EST

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.

Agatha Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 12:52 PM EST

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.

Melissa Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 12:50 PM EST

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.

Huffybike Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 12:42 PM EST

There's some great audio from the movie up here: http://www.entertonement.com/collections/1619/Tropic-Thunder

Anne Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 12:40 PM EST

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!

jmiklane Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 12:26 PM EST

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.