Back-to-Nam pic slams Hollywood comedies
No bush "Tropic Thunder" goes deep anyway
Felix Solomon
Issue date: 5/22/08 Last update: 7/10/08 at 3:47 AM PST
Section: Arts
OK, "Tropic Thunder" really lays its roast on the altar of Hollywood celebrity actors. Thankfully, no ham is eaten. The movie also points out what's unfortunately wrong with so many attempts at movie comedy. It is scheduled for release Aug. 18.
Sending up the making of "Apocalypse Now" we find the main characters have flawed grasps on their roles on location in Viet Nam. Millions of dollars go down the drain as the first scene wakes from movie view to production circus.
The doomed director misguidedly turns to the writer to save the film. Flying in to the "Golden Triangle" serious missteps occur and we really start to dig into the characters. Everyone plays true and the whole cast act like people you'd find on any Hollywood movie set.
Most movie comedies play for the easy guffaws and go 100 percent retarded losing any chance for respect from any audience but the most moronic and silly fun seekers. And this is the genius of this movie. This comedy knows its audience and really is a "Thank You" to the fanboys of good film-making with smart referencing.
The many cultural references are appropriate and push the story along revealing the characters and the plot twists. Making and watching good films can provide great entertainment even when everything has a purpose. This movie is a rollicking good time with dead-on music soundtrack references.
Starting with a good premise, writers Ben Stiller and Justin Theroux took "City Slickers" and gave it a modern cultural distinctly movie industry reference. Instead of cowboys and New York dudes in the old West you get over-the-top celebrity actors, rap stars and war vets in modern asian jungles. All displaying their neuroses to sharp comic effect and slicing open the glorified Hollywood. What I liked was how stereotypes were refined or torn apart and rebuilt to create new creatures.
Don't let the profane and harsh cursing or rap lyrics dissuade you from seeing this hot summer fun ride. While the movie may have little merit with female aspirations, other than making a case that a guy can change, I witnessed girls enjoying themselves. Warning: Don't let your cellphone watch this movie. It could be traumatized. Some little things are different in the trailer than appear in the movie. Try to spot them.
Sending up the making of "Apocalypse Now" we find the main characters have flawed grasps on their roles on location in Viet Nam. Millions of dollars go down the drain as the first scene wakes from movie view to production circus.
The doomed director misguidedly turns to the writer to save the film. Flying in to the "Golden Triangle" serious missteps occur and we really start to dig into the characters. Everyone plays true and the whole cast act like people you'd find on any Hollywood movie set.
Most movie comedies play for the easy guffaws and go 100 percent retarded losing any chance for respect from any audience but the most moronic and silly fun seekers. And this is the genius of this movie. This comedy knows its audience and really is a "Thank You" to the fanboys of good film-making with smart referencing.
The many cultural references are appropriate and push the story along revealing the characters and the plot twists. Making and watching good films can provide great entertainment even when everything has a purpose. This movie is a rollicking good time with dead-on music soundtrack references.
Starting with a good premise, writers Ben Stiller and Justin Theroux took "City Slickers" and gave it a modern cultural distinctly movie industry reference. Instead of cowboys and New York dudes in the old West you get over-the-top celebrity actors, rap stars and war vets in modern asian jungles. All displaying their neuroses to sharp comic effect and slicing open the glorified Hollywood. What I liked was how stereotypes were refined or torn apart and rebuilt to create new creatures.
Don't let the profane and harsh cursing or rap lyrics dissuade you from seeing this hot summer fun ride. While the movie may have little merit with female aspirations, other than making a case that a guy can change, I witnessed girls enjoying themselves. Warning: Don't let your cellphone watch this movie. It could be traumatized. Some little things are different in the trailer than appear in the movie. Try to spot them.
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