Tropic Thunder
(2008) dir. Ben Stiller
viewed: 08/16/08 at at AMC Loews Metreon 16 with IMAX, SF, CA
The question of the day may be which is funnier, Tropic Thunder or Pineapple Express (2008), the two big comedies that have hit theaters in the last two weeks. For me, it’s hands-down Pineapple Express, and you know, I don’t care if you disagree. This is an opinion for crissakes!! I doubt seriously that there is a true measurement of humor, no matter how scientific you want to make it.
That said: here is some formulaic issues for Tropic Thunder.
Jack Black. Somebody, please, stop this man from making movies. He flails like a parody of himself while he tries to parody others. Jack Black is self-parody. He should open a bike shop or something.
Ben Stiller. After his previous directoral/writing efforts (Reality Bites (1994), Zoolander (2001)), we already know that he thinks that he is far funnier than he really is. Why other people may be under this illusion, I cannot say. He’s always the same dude in his films, this smart, yet loserish fellow with varying degrees of self-awareness. He’s highly tiresome and not clever. I am sorry.
Tom Cruise. In a “made to make me cool again by being crude and acting like a doofus in a fat suit” role, Cruise is not nearly as amusing as others might make you think. His dancing hip-hop style as a balding, hirsute executive is akin to white people trying to rap for comedy effect. It’s obvious, not funny, and still painful.
What the film does get right: Robert Downey, Jr.
With Iron Man (2008) under his belt for the year, Robert Downey, Jr. completes his comeback here in Tropic Thunder with one of the most outrageously funny and completely compelling roles to come out of Hollywood all year. Playing a multiple-Oscar winner, method actor extroirdinaire, Downey’s character, a blonde, blue-eyed Australian has his skin dyed and hairpieces fitted to play an African-American soldier in this would-be Vietnam film.
Downey is extremely funny. His character has charm, wit, the best lines… Given the most to work with, he takes it to the wall and through it. His character is a stroke of genius, playing up stereotypes, perceived stereotypes, positive racism and yet some intensive level of integrity and humanism that it’s absolutely stunning. He’s worth the film alone. He redeems it beyond its deserved redemption and makes all the muddling worthwhile.
The film has its flares of humor: witty parodies of Hollywood types and garbage, including fake trailers at the beginning that promote the fake characters’ previous film roles. And there are some clever and surprising cameos that make for good fun. It’s not that the film is awful. It’s okay. But without Downey, Jr., it’s nothing.
It’s worth seeing for Robert Downey, Jr. alone. There are plenty of laughs, and it’s a good time. But Pineapple Express has better comedy throughout. It itself is not Superbad (2007), but it does have James Franco, whose stoner character may not reach the heights of Downey, Jr.’s character, but is quite amusing. They are both good films. Good enough.
But since I started this as an argument of which is the better comedy of the moment, I have to say that it’s Pineapple Express. But Robert Downey, Jr. He’s more the man than ever.
