TROPIC THUNDER

Rating: 4/7 

It pains me to say it, but this movie actually works. What pains me more is that credit for the film's success must go to Ben Stiller's directing, an asset to this film while a detriment to his colossally over-the-top past work on The Cable Guy and Zoolander. Interestingly, his humor style and general approach haven't changed much; every joke is still stretched beyond its breaking point to an awkward level, and the characters continue to be little more than caricatures of themselves. So what puts Tropic Thunder a notch above the other films of the mindless-humor variety? Actually, quite a few things.

First of all, the premise is believable. Parody films don't thrive on realism, and for good reason, but it's very easy for such films to lose themselves so deeply in the ridiculousness of their own premise that the original idea being parodied becomes inconsequential. Great parodies, like Mel Brooks' classics, never lose sight of their genre, no matter how ridiculous the humor becomes. Stiller is smart enough to do the same, and the result is a film that always recalls war epics like Apocalypse Now, even while referencing pop icons and Hollywood moguls, sometimes all at once. An ensemble cast featuring Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., and Stiller (mostly playing exaggerated versions of themselves) just can't seem to give the director the kind of shots he needs - so he drops them in the jungle and tells them to find their way out, planning to film his shots secretly in order to get authentic performances. But the area he drops them in is actually hostile, and things go downhill quicker than you can say, "the horror!" From a comedic standpoint, the possibilities are endless.

Another reason the film works is that Stiller knows how to let his cast shine. He's managed to get some very funny and extremely talented actors into this venture, something rarely seen in this style of film. Instead of focusing the film on one person or getting fancy with the camera (actors-turned-directors sometimes have that tendency), Stiller lets the actors play each scene out to completion. This is a double-edged sword though, since letting every scene and every joke stretch as long as possible can come off as awkward and strained. This is most apparent in Tom Cruise's few scenes, which are quite funny, but there is a grand total of two jokes in his entire performance, and after the first few minutes, his character's entire potential has been virtually exhausted.

This brings us to another of the film's simultaneous strengths and weaknesses: the humor. This is where we're most reminded that we're watching a Ben Stiller movie. On the surface, it looks like the usual farting and disgusting situations, and those certainly are present. But instead of getting lost in the stupidity of its characters (I'd cite example films here, but there are too many to narrow it down), it simply does what strong parodies always do: take a real situation to the next level. I won't describe any jokes in detail, but most of the laughs come from genuine cleverness, like using a sports drink to fake urination in a completely unneccessary situation or a surprise secret you wouldn't expect from a hip-hop star. Unfortunately, Stiller & Co. aren't above being as crude as a high school band trip to the point that their goal appears to be to cram as many profane words and raunchy remarks into each sentence as possible. I guess they just couldn't help themselves, but it won't go unappreciated by some members of the audience (you know you you are).

By now, I think you would know whether or not this movie is for you. If you're cringing at the word "urination," there are plenty of other films out that you'd much rather see. If you can't even believe I analyzed a movie like this as much as I did, this is probably right up your alley. For my part, I'll just say that I did enjoy the rare privilege of viewing a big-budget comedy, and I applaud Stiller on a job well done. If he continues to improve as a director, I might actually make a point of seeing more of his films in the theater.

Guide to Parents: Tropic Thunder is practically oozing blood, gore, f-bombs and sexual language. Take that R-rating seriously.