Review of film: “TROPIC THUNDER” -- LIGHTNING may strike with a (general) Roar of Approval

Review of film:  “TROPIC THUNDER”  --    LIGHTNING may strike with a (general) Roar of Approval = 

                      [ RATING:  8 of 10 stars ] 

Date Rated: Jul 15, 2008 | Rel. Date: Aug 13, 2008 =

One of the main characters in this BEN STILLER comedy (about making a new Vietnam War “film”) says, “The insecurity of you guys is ridiculous!” That pretty well DESCRIBES them...


...  The movie starts out with some very funny fake “trailers” for previous films of the supposed stars (JACK BLACK, etc.). It’s a good intro to the often-inept & self-absorbed people who are starring in the frequently-misguided film-making project...


...  ROBERT DOWNEY JR. insists on pretending to be a BLACK man (which is sporadically funny-- when you can understand his periodically-indistinct words). The actors get accidentally caught up in fighting some REAL-life “bad guys” (tho they don’t realize that until near the end of the reel)...


...  This is a RAUNCHY comedy, with language not suited for kids-- &, “Holy ‘Magnolia’!”, some of the best work is done by TOM CRUISE letting it all “hang out” as the boss of a movie studio...


...  The humor is more slapstick than well-written or clever, but, overall, it’s an enjoyable diversion.