Movie Review - Tropic Thunder

Sorry I never got around to posting my movie reviews last week like I said I would; I'll be posting them all this week instead.

In Roger Ebert’s positive review of Ghostbusters, he remarked that it’s incredibly difficult to effectively mix big budget special effects with comedy.  “Special effects require painstaking detail work,” he said.  “Comedy requires spontaneity and improvisation, or at least that’s what it should feel like, no matter how much work has gone into it.”  Tropic Thunder is another movie that manages to balance over-the-top special effects/action with smart, very funny comedy.  It stars Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., and Ben Stiller (who also directed and co-wrote the film).

The movie centers around a group of actors shooting “Tropic Thunder,” a big budget, Apocalypse Now-styled war film based on a supposedly true story.  When the shoot goes over budget and the studio starts to get antsy, the director decides to drop the actors into the jungle on their own in order to give them some real motivation.  Unbeknownst to all of them, the site they are dropped at is part of a nearby heroin cartel, and the guys ultimately find themselves fighting a real battle (even if they aren’t always aware of it).

This is clearly a labor of love for Stiller, who in the last few years has starred in a number of forgettable comedies (The Heartbreak Kid, Envy, etc.).  Unlike those films, Tropic Thunder pulses with energy and inspiration.  The film gives the audience an intriguing look at the inner workings of Hollywood and the lives of actors that, while surely broadened for comedic effect, doesn’t feel like it’s too far removed from reality.  Stiller also proves himself to be a skilled action director: the intense action sequences often rank on the same level as the films they are spoofing.  But, most importantly, the action never gets in the way of the comedy.  All the actors get a chance to get big laughs out of the material, especially Downey Jr. as a revered Australian actor (think Daniel Day-Louis) playing an African American sergeant.  Downey takes a potentially hazardous role and walks the line perfectly; he could very easily get an Oscar nod for this role.

There are a lot of in-jokes and special guest appearances that make up some of the funniest bits of the movie (hint: it may take you a few minutes to realize the movie has actually started).  Most people already know about the appearance of a certain Scientologist, who may have single-handedly saved his career with this role.  Tropic Thunder manages to be one of the best comedies of the year as well as one of the best action films.  Definitely worth seeing.

Tropic Thunder gets a 4 out of 5.

Movie releases for the week of 8/15/08

There are a lot of films being released this week, so everyone should be able to find something they like:

Opening in Wide Release:

• "Tropic Thunder" - Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. star in this film, also directed by Stiller, about a group of self-obsessed actors who set out to film an "Apocalypse Now"-styled war epic and are unknowningly dropped into a real war zone. I am definitely going to see this movie; it looks really good as both a comedy and an action film. Most people think this'll be the film that finally knocks "The Dark Knight" out of the number one spot, and I think it will too. Rated R.
• "Fly Me to the Moon 3-D" - A 3-D animated adventure about three young house flies who stow away aboard the historic Apollo 11 mission to the moon. Honestly, this movie looks so bad it makes "Space Chimps" look like "Wall-E." Skip this at all costs. Rated G.
• "Mirrors" - "24" star Kiefer Sutherland stars as a mall security guard who finds himself having to deal with what appear to be ghosts hiding in the mirrors. Even though it's tempting to imagine Jack Bauer facing down ghosts instead of terrorists, I can't help but admit that the film just doesn't look very scary. The director, Alexandre Aja, made a really good/twisted French horror flick a few years back called "High Tension;" check that film out instead. Rated R.
• "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" - This animated film tells the events that took place in the titular war that occured offscreen between "Attack of the Clones" and "Revenge of the Sith." Despite what the trailers may seem to indicate, I've heard that Anakin and Obi-Wan don't actually feature much in the film; instead it focuses more on new character Ahsoka, Anakin's spunky young padawan learner. There is also an apparently gay Hutt character in the film too. Honestly I'm torn about this one: at first I just wrote the film off, but the more I've heard about it the more I've started to get interested. I'll have to hear what the critics have to say (so far the reviews are mixed leading toward negative). Also, this film is going to serve as a prequel to an upcoming television series. Rated PG.
• "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" - The latest film from Woody Allen stars Javier Bardem, Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz as beautiful people who meet in Spain and become tangled up in romantic/comedic situations. This looks to be one of Allen's better films in recent years, so whether you're a fan or have never seen any of his films this looks to be worth seeing. Rated PG-13.

Opening in Selected Release:

• "A Girl Cut In Two" - This French import stars the lovely Ludivine Sagnier as an ambitious young woman who is in love with an immoral writer, but instead marries an unstable young millionaire. Looks to be a sexy, intriguing thriller. Not rated, but looks to contain some adult content.
• "Henry Poole Is Here" - The discovery of a neighborhood "miracle" disrupts a dying man's plan to live out his days in seclusion and quiet desperation. Stars Luke Wilson and Radha Mitchell. Looks to be a very whimsical film that actually addresses spiritual ideals without delving into sentimental tripe. Has a bit of a Wes Anderson-feel to it as well. Worth looking for. Rated PG.
• "Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer" - Jack Brooks is an angry, young plumber who has repressed the memory of witnessing his family's brutal murder. Only when he unknowingly awakens an ancient evil, is Jack forced to confront his past, deal with the monstrous reality of the present and discover the true purpose of his inner rage. Features a cameo by Robert Englund (aka Freddy Krueger himself). If you're the kind of person who likes gruesome, low-budget (but well-made) horror/comedies like "Shaun of the Dead" and the "Evil Dead" series, you may like this. Then again, I like those films but I'm not so sure at this one. A definite maybe. Rated R.