Tropic Thunder opens with a series of film trailers that help introduce us to our crazy cast of misfits. These trailers some have said, are the funniest part of the whole film, perhaps, there is some truth to that. Still, they are only a teaser to the depth all of the characters fleshed out through the course of the film.
Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller) is Hollywood’s highest paid action star who has had a successful career with the Scorcher movie franchise, however has had less success trying to switch to more serious roles. Alpha Chino (Brandon T. Jackson) is the latest hot rapper trying to make his transition to film and also the spokesperson for an energy drink called "Booty Sweat," a drink with its slogan – “Pop an ass open!!! Chino’s machismo persona might be secretly hiding his true self. Jeff "Fats" Portnoy (Jack Black) on the other hand, is a successful comedy actor. He’s known for playing multi-character parts (ala Eddie Murphy’s Nutty Professor series) with its childish humor that often relys on fart sounds. Portnoy now too wants to pursue a more mature acting career as he battles his drug addictions. Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey, Jr.) is an Australian method actor that has won numerous Academy Awards in his already accomplished career. For his latest role as Sergeant Lincoln Osiris, he has undergone controversial surgery to make him physically look like an African American. This could be his greatest role ever or the biggest mistake of his life.
These are just a few of the many characters that exist in Tropic Thunder - a movie within a movie. While filming the memoir’s of Vietnam Vet’s John "Four Leaf" Tayback's (Nick Nolte), the film goes wildly over budget and is in danger of being shut down. Rookie director Damien Cockburn (Steve Coogan) makes a rash decision and decides to teach the misbehaved actors a lesson and shoot the rest of the film guerilla-style. He sets up secret camera's and drops the actors in the jungle. However, unbeknownst to the crew or the actors, they have just been placed in the middle of a high drug dealer’s jungle kingdom. What the actors don’t realize is the world around them isn’t pretend - it’s for real.
So goes the outrageous premise of Stiller’s Tropic Thunder. Stiller said he originally conceived of the idea years ago back when he had a small bit part in Steven Spielberg’s 1987 war drama Empire of the Sun. The film clearly lampoons many war films in particular Vietnam flicks like Platoon and The Deer Hunter. Yet, is also clearly a commentary on actors and their self indulgence with their craft.
If you were the few to miss the film while it was in theaters, never fear it has just arrived on standard DVD and blu-ray in a special unrated Director’s Cut. Along with the feature, we have plenty of bonus material all in HD (in the blu-ray edition) to keep you satisfied.
First up there are two commentaries, one with the filmmakers and one with the main cast. As I always say I love commentaries and two is orgasmic. There are a series of featurettes that include the background on the ideas that eventually became the film, a fake documentary on the film’s ill-fated director Damien Cockburn played by Steve Coogan, deleted scenes, the make-up tests for Tom Cruise's portrayal of the fat disgusting executive, and even a hilarious spot for the MV Movie Awards.
However one of the more unique extras is entitled, Full Mag. This is a look into film making and ad-libbing at it’s finest. We watch raw footage of Robert Downey Jr, and Ben Stiller as they act out a big scene in the movie over and over for eleven minutes, until the film “mag”-azine runs out. Sounds like it would get old and repetitive, but on the contrary, it showcases their talents. It also shows the process and work one can go into in order to find the right tone for a scene. It’s pure magic.
Tropic Thunder is a black comedy that isn’t for everyone. In fact the film had plenty of protesting not from Downey Jr.'s black face but from their use of the word "retard". So yes, it’s a film that can easily offend but if you have an open mind and see through it all, it can make you laugh as well. Tropic Thunder is now available on standard DVD and blu-ray. Go pick it up and enjoy the crazy madness fun.
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