(Regular DHD readers know I don't do geek. But frequent LA Weekly film reviewer and comic book expert Luke Y Thompson does. He spends all year waiting for Comic-Con and this time he's covering it for me. Here's his latest report.)
TROPIC THUNDER
Paramount may not be showing us any new STAR TREK, but they're showing the heck out of this, with screenings almost every night. Perhaps that has something to do with the fact that they took the time to shoot a special Comic-Con exclusive intro, with Jack Black, Ben Stiller, and Robert Downey Jr. all trying to prove their "fanboy cred."
Stiller says he was always a big Xena and Buffy fan. Downey name-drops "Tony Stark" into every other sentence. Black, who actually looks like a stereotypical comic-con attendee, ridicules them both. Downey tells fans that if they buy the IRON MAN DVD they can win his original mask. Stiller shows off Spock ears and a Gorn mask from the original STAR TREK that he says he bought at an auction. Black: "You're not a fanboy, you're just a rich enthusiast!" Downey offers viewers a chance to win a weekend with him, where "I might go up in you, in character, as Tony Stark."
You can't follow that. So the movie begins. And does so with similar humor, as we get a few fake trailers -- astonishingly, these blatantly mock movie studios other than Paramount, using their official logos too! So from Universal, a big dumb global-warming themed action movie called SCORCHER VI. From New Line (ah, I miss them already!), dumb-ass fart-joke comedy MEET THE FATTIES PART 2. And from Fox Searchlight, an awards contender entitled SATAN'S ALLEY, with Tobey Maguire as a gay monk. Kudos to all three studios for running with the joke, though I'm not sure Joe Average in the heartland will get studio-specific satire.
That's okay, though -- there's plenty more to get. Though you certainly know by now that the movie is about a group of spoiled actors making a war movie who run afoul of a real enemy force in the jungle, what you may not know is that the movie's "real" world is just as absurd as that of the film within a film.
I've been waiting a long time for Ben Stiller to deliver a movie like this as director; a movie like his old TV sketch comedy show, to be precise. It was a huge diappointment a decade or so ago when the guy responsible for such a funny series got the directorial reins of a feature and it turned out to be REALITY BITES. And then THE CABLE GUY. And ZOOLANDER.
But this is funny and savvy satire. It's a bit too self-aware to be biting, exactly, though, despite Tom Cruise's much ballyhooed performance (it's more than just a cameo) as a foul-mouthed studio exec who talks in war terminology. Cruise was easily the audience's favorite, especially during one scene where he references outer space, and I wouldn't be surprised if Paramount is already hard at work cutting TV spots focusing on his character. Cruise's character sums up the movie in a microcosm -- it's Hollywood saying, "Look, we know we're insane, and so do you. Here, we're gonna let you laugh at us for a whole movie, just this one time." There seems to be just the slightest hint of self-congratulation to it, like all involved think really highly of themselves for acting so dumb. But that's Stiller in a nutshell too.
And it works. After the show, audience members outside were busy reciting favorite lines. One of my own faves comes from Danny McBride as the film's explosives expert: "I'm tryin' to put Tiger Balm on this jungle's nuts!" There are too many to count from Robert Downey Jr. His exchange with Stiller's character about the degree of mental retardation the Academy will accept in an Oscar-nominated character is on-the-mark hilarious ("Never go full-retard!"). Downey's character could easily have come across as racist in the wrong hands, but he plays it just right, and is ably counteracted by relative newcomer Brandon T. Jackson, playing a misogynist rapper named Alpa Chino (say it out loud to get the joke).
As for Jack Black... one has to wonder if Stiller's experiences working with Andy Dick on TV were any kind of inspiration.
It's no stretch to point out that TROPIC THUNDER is exactly what it's parodying -- a big, dumb, loud, star-studded entertainment undoubtedly made by spoiled brats and crazies. When the relatively unknown actor Jay Baruchel tells his costars within the film that he hoped he'd get laid as a result of appearing in a movie with them, it's easy to imagine him thinking that in reality too.
Ha ! If Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey, Jr.
really cared that much about the kids and geeks and their street cred at Comic-Con– they’d all be at the
event making surprise appearances ! Anyone can tape
a greeting. Big Deal.
Comment by Havetopost — July 24, 2008 @ 10:22 am
I am not one of those people who plans on patting Robert Downey Jr. for having the guts to do what Al Jolsen did in the Jazz Singer 80 years ago.
It was racist then and its crazy racist now.
I get it. It’s supposed to be satire….
But as an African American who has to stare at that billboard EVERY time I come out of my apartment, with Downey smiling down on me looking like some sort of smiling Sambo, I get mad.
And I’m not apologizing for it.
Comment by TadAllagash — July 24, 2008 @ 10:50 am
Hmmm… I’m still a little weary of Downey Jr in “blackface”… I’ve seen all the trailers and other clips, and each time, I can’t help but cringe a little bit he does his Motown thing. I certainly don’t want anyone thinking that it’s ok to recite his lines from the film, in his “black man” voice, in my presence, expecting me to find his/her imitation of Downey’s imitation funny.
But, I still plan on seeing the film next month. I’ll be better equiped to make my assessment then.
Cheers!
Comment by THE OBENSON REPORT — July 24, 2008 @ 10:52 am
Tropic Thunder will easily be the funniest movie of the year. Honestly, the blackface would be racist, if it weren’t for context. It’s an actor, playing an actor, who’s becoming black.
Context. Thus not racist. It’s not funny, if it didn’t make you mad.
Comment by Brick — July 24, 2008 @ 11:17 am
Danny McBride is effing awesome. He completely steals his scenes in “Pineapple Express” and I’m looking forward to seeing him in “Tropic Thunder”.
Comment by Shaun — July 24, 2008 @ 11:48 am
Sorry some folks are offended by Robert Downey Jr. in blackface. Somebody is offended by most everything these days.
I guess I’m one of the few whites left who couldn’t care less if something offends someone else.
Get over it.
Comment by Proudly Anti-PC — July 24, 2008 @ 1:18 pm
The description of Tropic Thunder sounds hilarious though it would be nice if people in the “heartland” were given a little more credit for their ability to discern and even enjoy the same jokes you can. Only in Hollywood would people assume that only they can interpret send ups about their own myopia.
Comment by Art — July 24, 2008 @ 1:38 pm
Wow, did you have to mention that bit about a Deep Blue Sea moment? Now it won’t be a surprise. Jerk.
Comment by Frendo — July 24, 2008 @ 1:39 pm
Get over yourself. I don’t cringe everytime I see Eddie Murphy doing white face in the classic SNL skit. In fact, I can’t stop laughing.
Comment by Jimbo — July 24, 2008 @ 1:41 pm
Wasn’t “Satan’s Alley” that Broadway musical that John Travolta was dancing in, in Saturday Night Fever 2, that abomination directed by Sylvester Stallone?
Comment by peggy — July 24, 2008 @ 2:34 pm
As a female movie lover, none of this excites me. I get a few crumbs a year….the geeks get non stop horror, comics, superheros. I know I am supposed to be all excited about SATC and MAMA MIA…so that is TWO, lucky me! Maybe if something was made on a regular basis for my demographic, women would return to the movie theaters.
However, the geeks and creeps run the business. As a result, Comic-Con, with its fringe crazies, are now determining the future of cinema. Sad! Audrey Hepburn, Bette Davis….where are you?
Comment by I Am Woman — July 24, 2008 @ 3:13 pm
Angelina Jolie did roughly the same thing in a mighty heart….
Comment by Romeo — July 24, 2008 @ 3:54 pm
Know why they’re not showing you any STAR TREK, fanboys?
Because J.J. Abrams is finally going to succeed in doing what some of us hoped the 3 B’s: Brannon/Braga/Berman would finally do:
KILLING THE FRANCHISE!!!!!
Paramount are whoremasters, plain and simple. They never understood what made Star Trek great, they are content with any old piece of feces with the name STAR TREK on it because they know “X” number of basement-dwelling mouthbreathers are going to show up and fork over money and more merch money.
J.J. Abrams and Zack (”‘Visionary’ 300 Director about to cause Alan Moore to commit Hara-Kiri”) Snyder should have a baby together and name it Hacky McHackerson.
Can we clone the Nolan brothers, please?
Comment by Guy Fawkes — July 24, 2008 @ 4:43 pm
Geez Louise Tad,
Tell you what is racist - That you (or anyone) comment about something you have yet to see. That you make an assumption based on advertising is just as lame. Sorry man, I feel strongly about this.
And I have seen TT. It’s certainly the funniest film I have EVER seen. Downey is beyond brilliant. Stiller’s direction is as stellar as any top notch director working today. He is at the top of his game.
I can’t think of a cinematic comparison to TT. It’s a smart funny movie. The opening war sequence is as breathtakingly rich visually as Apocalypse Now. The dialogue will be quoted as much as Spinal Tap. (if you’re a Tap fan) You know how everyone quotes Nicholson saying “You Can’t Handle The Truth?” TT has dozens of these lines.
I know - I sound like an exec, or someone who will make money from TT. Nope. I’m just passionate about this film and hate to see it get a bad rap before it’s seen. And especially a bad racist rap.
See the movie. If you still call it ‘crazy’ racist - that’s your right. I don’t think you will. I think you’ll be laughing too hard.
peace
Comment by scott — July 24, 2008 @ 5:05 pm
I never knew why there wasn’t a hoopla about Angeline Jolie doing a mighty heart with blackface. I mean is it because she was playing someone biracial? Because she still wore the makeup. I refused to see that movie because it is taking away a good part from an actress who actually is a woman of color - and those parts are scarce as it is. If you love the story so much - produce it, don’t wear blackface and expect me to take you seriously.
Comment by thank you — July 24, 2008 @ 11:21 pm
I never saw anyone shouting “Racism” when White Chicks came out. And i really don’t get why people should be offended by this one. I saw the movie, it’s a BRILLIANT satire about Hollywood and the way RDJ plays it, there’s not even a shred of anything offensive. It’s the best comedy to come around in years and RDJ performance is touching Oscar level.
Comment by Ben — July 25, 2008 @ 10:59 am
People throw around the word “racist” too carelessly, which dilutes the meaning of the word. Without digressing into a whole sociological discussion of racism, vs prejudice, I’ll just say that one can be prejudiced (biased against “others” different from you) but to really be racist, you have to be able to ENFORCE your prejudices through whatever power you have over an individual, or to enforce your prejudices into policies which impact less powerful groups in society as a whole.
Enough about that, and on to the movie. I’m Black and I saw Tropic Thunder (TT) at a screening on July 9. The movie as a whole is a funny satire of the Hollywood culture and the movie making process. (A bit like “Lost in La Mancha” with Johnny Depp from 2002).
Now, for Robert Downey Jr.’s (RDJ) performance as a Black sergeant: I didn’t find it offensive, and he pulled it off by walking a very fine line between being overly empathetic with Black men and simply attempting to mimic/copy their “perceived” mannerisms.
I’m female, and I know a lot of Brothers, so to see a white guy try to earnestly mimic what they perceive as the “essence” of what a Black man is, is comical and an interesting sociological study in and of itself.
RDJ seems to boil that essence down to the tone and cadence of his voice, and into the dialogue his character speaks. He drops his voice an octave, speaks in a staccato style, and spouts a lot of African American proverbs (old sayings). RDJ isn’t terrible, I wasn’t offended, but I would shudder to think of less-talented white actors trying this. Also, the younger Black soldier played by Brandon T. Jackson keeps RDJ’s character in check, so that he doesn’t wander over into what could easily be an Al Jolson-style minstrel performance (which one could argue Tom Cruse’s portrayal of a studio exec fond of rap music, does).
I wouldn’t even dream (Like the poster Ben @10:59am did) of thinking RDJ deserves any Oscar recognition for this performance. But with less loftier praise, was RDJ funny? To me, yes, but every Black person (and White person) has different tastes, so see the movie and judge for yourself. If you don’t want to spend money on what you perceive as RDJ in blackface, then don’t (I would say get the movie on bootleg, but I don’t think that people would get that I’m only joking).
To the poster who says “get over it” and that he’s anti-Political Correctness I’ll only say this: once you’ve spent a lifetime walking in a Black man’s shoes, then and only then will you have license to make that absurd statement.
Comment by cheriekeane — July 25, 2008 @ 5:33 pm
What gets me is that fact that black hollywood is at the same time fighting for roles right now! We had to BOYCOTT nbc for them finally to start putting at least a few minorities in roles not regulated to crackheads, and as I black actress I have been told, we only have one slot for an african american, as I watch 100 white actors get the go ahead.
This is SHAMEFUL and a disgrace! Why dont you talk about the fact that the only role a black person can get, from all the movies and show, are for reality tv? Because we don’t talk about this treatment in hollywood does not mean you can ignore it. Please answer that.
Comment by lisa — August 15, 2008 @ 12:02 pm