Eye Candy #268 - "Tropic Thunder"

Tropic Thunder:  I’ve delaying writing a review of this film for some time because I’m honestly torn how I feel about it.  The film has a WEAK script.  But the film also has some AWESOME performances that make it watchable if not terribly memorable (though it will be hard to forget Robert Downey Jrs.’ performance as an obvious Russell Crowe take-off, the White actor in blackface as an artistic choice).  The plot:  several dim-bulb actors, on location filming a Vietnam War movie that appears to consist entirely of awful clichés, find themselves knee-deep in REAL Asian guerillas with equally REAL firearms…except the actors don’t necessarily realize that at the time.   The aforementioned Downey Jr. steals every scene he is in (including staying in character on the actor commentary track), as does Tom Cruise as profane, bald agent Les Grossman.  Jack Black is given some funny stuff sporadically, but he’s also playing a drug addict going through withdrawal at the same time, which under normal circumstances isn’t usually a source of belly laughs.   Most of the cast, however, is wasted, particularly Ben Stiller, who is playing the same idiot character he’s now played in a handful of movies without variation.  You might was well call him Zoolander or White Goodman, because he’s playing the same guy. Sure, it made me laugh periodically, but does the film really bear repeat viewings?  Uh…no.  I had high expectations and it didn’t meet them, the pedigree going into this was too good.  Woodchuck sez, “Coulda been, shoulda been a lot better.”