Review of Tropic Thunder (2008) by Melissa S — 05 May 2012

So Ben Stiller wants to be in a Nam flick, OK sure, shame he missed the boat for that era, and this is why he made this film im guessing? why? well we all know the outfit of the average grunt in Nam films looks cool, the easy, laid back, dont give a shit style with ammo belts and guns hanging of everyone. Just check all the classic war flicks of the time...being in a Nam film was a cool thing and that's the only reason Stiller and co have made this because there's just no other reason for it.

Its poor, not funny and just pointless, the film looks good location wise but that's it, the cast is impressive but who cares, Stiller isn't funny, Downey is shit in all his personalities, McConaughey is his usual slimey, embarrassingly bad self and Tom Cruise is just terrible...simply awful. Black is the only person with some decent funny bits but we're only talking SMALL bits.

The plot is a total rip of the much funnier and classic 'The Three Amigo's', 'TT' doesn't even compare to Martin, Chase and Short, 'Amigo's' was cheaper and tacky yet its leagues better than this. You never have any real idea where Stiller and co are in the world, who the guerilla's in the jungle are and why, why a child leads them and frankly you dont really care, the film is made in such a way that it comes across as a serious action flick but then remembers its a comedy and throws in some stupid gag or just resorts to mindless swearing hoping that will suffice.

The ending is crap and isn't explained (someone just pops up and saves the day) and basically it isn't funny...ever. Tom Cruise cannot do comedy, even in silly makeup...embarrassing ain't the word.