Tropic Thunder: It’s contagious

ninemsn

Ben Stiller’s new comedy “Tropic Thunder” is the story of a group of big-name actors set to make the “biggest war film ever”. But when the filming schedule runs one month behind (only five days into the shoot), the director decides to strip the actors of all creature comforts and drop them into the jungle, so he can shoot the film guerrilla-style using hidden cameras.

Though it starts as a parody of war films such as “Apocalypse Now”, this flick is more a send-up of the movie industry and the egos that inhabit it. And much like the film-within-the-film storylines, “Tropic Thunder” was no cheap shoot, with a budget of $100 million and a stellar ensemble cast led by Ben Stiller, who plays a washed-up action hero, Tugg Speedman, attempting to make the transition into serious acting.

As a comedy film, “Tropic Thunder” passes the golden rule: make it funny. There are jokes aplenty here, with a nice balance of wry, politically incorrect wit and more bawdy, visual gags that will keep everyone happy.

However, like so much of Stiller’s work, there is an overriding absurdity that keeps the film from feeling natural and effortless. The narrative is the weakest key and plays second fiddle to the jokes and performances.

But wow, what performances! Robert Downey Jr as Kirk Lazarus – an Australian Academy Award-winning actor who refuses to break out of character as an African-American soldier – is utterly convincing (both as an African American and an Aussie).

Audiences in my cinema all got a kick out of recognising strains of Russell Crowe and the references to Australiana.

The third lead, Jack Black, stars as a comedic actor famous for playing multiple roles in films, and harbours a not-so-secret drug addiction. (Eddie Murphy anyone? Or even Downey Jr?)

Other acting heavyweights, including Steve Coogan, Nick Nolte, Bill Hader, Matthew McConaughey and an almost unrecognisable Tom Cruise, also appear in the film.

The cast is the film’s real strength here. So many of the characters are larger than life, to the point of very nearly being OTT, but they are kept grounded by a vigorous earnestness from the actors.

No character here is treated meanly or contritely, but drawn with affectionate detail, and each given a Ben Stiller-like vulnerability. All the actors seem to be having a ball, and best of all, it’s contagious.

ninemsn’s MovieFix, August 2008.