Tropic Thunder:The Funniest Movie of the Year review

Share

No spoof on war movies is complete without passing references to Platoon, Saving Private Ryan and Apocalypse Now. But more than these tried and tested ways of creating humour, it is the innovative gimmicks in which Stiller grabs your attention that is the highlight.

The funniest movie of this year is here! Ben Stiller as director has come up with a winner combining spoofs, crude humour, racial jokes, witty one-liners and action comedy with a big budget. The jokes come so thick and fast that if you pause to laugh, you might miss the next one. That is why I would recommend at least two viewings so that you do not miss out on anything.

A motley group of actors are taken to a jungle in Asia with the intention of shooting a ‘˜realistic' war movie. Somewhere along the way the director is blown up by a landmine. Assuming it to be a part of the script, the actors continue with their unscripted roles. Soon everyone but Ben Stiller realizes that they are no longer acting. They separate with Stiller staying in character, slowly graduating to a full Rambo mode. Soon enough, he is captured by drug warlords and it is up to the others to rescue him.

It is the energy and enthusiasm that the actors imbue into their roles that makes Tropic Thunder what it is. Stiller as the action star who is yearning to be taken seriously is a scream. He has forever played the befuddled moron who gets trodden over in all his movies. To see him play a beefed up action star is a welcome change. Of course he still gets trodden over in this one but you know they are his moments. Equally good is Robert Downey Jr. As a five time Oscar winning actor, he will go to any lengths to get into the skin of the character...literally. In playing an African-American, he even gets his skin dyed to a darker shade and speaks in a way blacks speak. Or so he thinks. His accent is a constant source of irritation for fellow actor and rap-star, Alpa Chino (get it?). Played by Brandon T. Jackson. The rookie on the scene is Jay Baruchel who offers great insight on anything to anybody who is willing to listen. And then there is Jack Black. This guy can do no wrong. Whatever he does, whatever he says, you end up laughing. Here, he's a heroin addict whose fix is swiped off by a bat. He suffers from withdrawal symptoms which make him behave abnormally. There is a scene where he first begs the others to tie him to a tree and then begs them to release him. Strap yourself in your seat before it begins, lest you fall off laughing.

As if this wasn't enough there are strong supporting roles for Nick Nolte, Matthew McConaughey and a barely recognizable Tom Cruise. Just watch him shimmy as the end credits start rolling. Surely his jig ought to be put in the same league as Gene Kelley's in Singing in the Rain or John Travolta's in Pulp Fiction.

No spoof on war movies is complete without passing references to Platoon, Saving Private Ryan and Apocalypse Now. But more than these tried and tested ways of creating humour, it is the innovative gimmicks in which Stiller grabs your attention that is the highlight. Take for instance the way the actors are introduced or the almost-serious discussion on what it takes to win an Oscar. Or how about the relentless use of cuss words, so much so that they start sounding funny.

It's been a long time since I've laughed so much for two hours at a stretch. And I don't know when it will happen again. Which means that I'm going to go back and watch Tropic Thunder again.

[rating:5]