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Tropic Thunder | 
 enlarge | Director: Ben Stiller
Actors: Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Nick Nolte, Steve Coogan
Studio: Dreamworks Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $29.98
Buy Used: $7.10
You Save: $22.88 (76%)
New (44) Used (45) Collectible (1) from $7.10
Rating:  131 reviews
Sales Rank: 52
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 107
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: PARD350154D
UPC: 097363501541
EAN: 0097363501541
ASIN: B001H5X7I4
Theatrical Release Date: 2008
Release Date: November 18, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 11/18/2008 Run time: 107 minutes Rating: R
Amazon.com
It's not really a knock to say that nothing in Tropic Thunder is funnier than its first five minutes, so sly that--especially for people watching in theaters--you don't realize right away they are the opening minutes of the movie. This outrageous comedy begins with a series of fake previews, each introducing one of the main characters in the film-proper (not that there's anything proper about this film) and each bearing the familiar logo of a different motion picture studio: Universal, DreamWorks SKG, et al. Such playing fast and loose with corporate talismans verges on sacrilege, but it's an index of how much le tout Tinseltown endorses the movie as a demented valentine to itself. The premise is that the cast of a would-be "Son of Rambo" movie shooting in some Southeast Asian jungle get into a real shooting war with drug-smuggling montagnards. Don't ask--though the movie does have an answer--why such highly paid, usually ultra-pampered personnel as superhero Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller), Mozart of fart comedy Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black), hip-hop artist Alpa Chino (Brandon T. Jackson), and five-time Oscar-winner Kirk Lazarus from Aus-try-leeah (Robert Downey Jr.) should be running through the jungle unattended and very vulnerable. It matters only that the real-life cast has a high time kidding their own profession and flexing their comedic muscles. Bonus points go to Stiller for co-writing the script (with Justin Theroux) and directing, and to Downey, brilliant as a white actor surgically turned black actor for his role and utterly committed to staying in character no matter what ("I don't drop character till I done the DVD commentary"). Be warned: The movie, too, is committed--to being an equal-opportunity offender. Its political incorrectness extends not only to Lazarus's black-like-me posturing but also Speedman's recent, Sean Penn-style Oscar bid playing a cognitively challenged farmboy--or, in Lazarus's deathless phrase, "going the full retard." Others in the cast include Steve Coogan as a director out of his depth, Nick Nolte as the Viet-vet novelist whose book inspired the film-within-the-film, Matthew McConaughey as Speedman's sun-blissed agent back home, and Tom Cruise--bald, fat-suited, and profane--as an epically repulsive studio head. Two hours running time is a mite excessive, but otherwise, what's not to like? --Richard T. Jameson
Stills from Tropic Thunder (Click for larger image)
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| Customer Reviews: Read 126 more reviews...
 "It...mu...mu...made me hap..py." December 15, 2008
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
I'm so embarrassed to say this but I love this movie so much, just bloody love it. I cannot even remember when something made me laugh so hard that I kept going back and watching certain scenes over and over. Robert Downey Jr.'s comeback is complete. As a 'black dude', he just nails it and never lets go. Believe me, you get over feeling weird about it immediatly, it's just too good, too freakin' authentic and hilarious- but NOT disrespectful. He's so good, so perfect. And JB...When Jack Black is `in character' in character, his New York accent literally made me cry. The skinny guy with the guts hanging out, hilarious, Hamlet 2, hilarious, just everything comes together perfectly. Nick Nolte? Nick Nolte?!
And it's all due to Ben Stiller who literally took every bit of his successes (Zoolander) and failures (Heartbreak Kid) and created this just absolutely pitch perfect comedy. It's been so long since I could say that a movie made me pee my pants with delight. Thank you, Ben Stiller, for the gleeful humiliation. I'm glad I was it at home in front of my Sony BRAVIA KDL-46XBR6 46" LCD TV when it happened. Yep, Mother Nature's not the only one who pissed her pantsuite.
Just one bad thing, Tom Cruise was creepy. Normally, I don't mind him too bad but in this movie, he was creepy and not fun creepy, just creepy. I think Stiller thought it would be fun to have him being so outrageous and yeah, it's fun but it pushed the creepy envelope for me. Tom Cruise is just creepy for me and I just think he's, well, creepy.
Going full retard November 30, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
A really unique concept that could have fallen flat on its face; instead, it is a triumph of film comedy. Absolutely side-splitting, so be careful eating/drinking while you're watching it, lest you spew chunks. The Blu-ray version is awesome, both visually and sonically, making it one of the best I've ever seen. If you don't laugh your head off watching this, someone had better check you for a pulse!
It Imprinted On Me Against My Will! December 2, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I'm not an aficionado of war movies, but I'm familiar enough with them to know the elements that were once groundbreaking but are now cliche (several scenes in this movie remind me of Platoon in particular). I went into this expecting a lame spoof movie, but instead I saw one of the best comedies that has come a long for a very long time. If you're tired of the drivel from the "Not Another Teen Movie/Meet the Spartans" bunch, don't worry-- this is NOTHING like that! It's actually FUNNY, SMART and ENTERTAINING. (That shouldn't be so much to ask, but it seems to be!)
The premise is very much like Galaxy Quest, another film where actors are thrust into a real-life situation and must get themselves out. There is a lot more poking fun at Hollywood stereotypes, and in a couple of places the movie may have gone too far. However, there's nothing mean-spirited about any of it. The gory scenes are fake and funny. The trailers border on the ridiculous, but tell a certain truth about movies, and probably about ourselves as well.
So many standout actors in this movie, and so little review space! I am no fan of Tom Cruise-- it's nothing personal; I've just never liked anything he's done... but I LOVED his performance as Les Grossman! At times I forgot Robert Downey Jr. wasn't black. Danny McBride, the explosive-loving stunt coordinator, and Brandon T. Jackson as Alpa Chino are HILARIOUS, and I hope we see more of them in the future. Matthew McConaughey surprised me for a second time... whatever you think of Reign of Fire, he surprised me in that one as he did in this one.
I like to get the extended edition DVDs, but I rarely watch the extras. I will say that the deleted scenes included on disc two were deleted for a reason; deleted scenes usually are. I got this for the extended, unrated cut, which is the only way to watch it. If you enjoy the extras, consider it a bonus. I didn't want to like this movie, but I did. Do yourself a favor and watch it-- it's TOTALLY WORTH IT.
Great fun; Best American Parody in Recent History December 16, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
This is a very funny movie that should tickle the funny-bone of fans of any war films, and any other comedy fans. Ben Stiller proves himself as being a better director than his previous attempt with Zoolander and Tropic Thunder is one of the best comedies of 2008.
We have a solid primary cast between Stiller, Black, and Downey Jr., but good old Robert Downey Jr. manages to steal most of the scenes from his co-stars as the white actor playing the black platoon sergeant ("I don't drop character until the DVD commentary").
There are plenty of star cameos, but the best (and most unexpected) comes from Tom Cruise, who plays a foul-mouthed, fat corporate executive. His cameo was originally intended to be kept a secret, but it was impossible to keep this appearance from leaking to the internet. Let me tell you, this man may want to move into comedy considering his current negative status among the public. He was SOLID in this movie. I would have never expected Tom Cruise to pull a role like this, but he did and he actually was incredibly funny in most of his scenes. The audience at my theater applauded when the credits showed his name.
Both Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Cruise are qualified for the Golden Globe nominations! Only reason I think Cruise wouldn't have a good chance over Downey Jr. is because of his little screen time, as opposed to Robert Downey Jr., who's present throughout most of the film. (Both were nominated for Best Supporting Actor in Comedy/Musical)
Other notable appearances are by Nick Nolte, as a Vietnam Veteran, and Matthew McConaughey as the Ben Stiller character's agent. Tobey Maguire also makes a humorous appearance at the beginning of the film.
Overall I was tickled, and surprised by this very well-balanced cast of notable actors. Every actor in here gets off some good jokes, and in different styles of comedy. This film had lots of different types of jokes, ranging from parody, satire, drug addiction, slapstick, and just plain silly antics. This film had everyone in my audience laughing at one point or the other, through its many references.
I felt this redeemed a long string of horrifically bad American made parodies. I never liked the work of Matt Stone and Parker with their shows such as `South Park', and don't even get me started on this `Disaster Movie' nonsense. Only notable films I could spot were made by the Brits, with such brilliance as Shaun of the Dead, and Hot Fuzz. Tropic Thunder isn't as good as those two films, mind you, but it certainly beats out all recent American made parodies. I never felt offended, or attacked by this film. It set out to entertain, and it entertained me from start to finish.
Tropic Thunder is great fun!
Robert Downey, Jr.---Excellent Performance November 19, 2008
8 out of 10 found this review helpful
I never understood why Downey, Jr. received job after job after being released from prison. I knew he was a good actor, but his portrayal of Iron Man and his performance in this movie was just phenomenal (I never saw the Charlie Chaplin movie). I know this movie offended some, but my husband and I are Black and we missed some of the dialogue in this movie from laughing so hard. We were picking out family members who really talk like that! This movie is hilarious. It's unfortunate that Oscars aren't considered for these types of movies/performances. All of the characters in this movie contributed to it's pleasing experience, however, RDJ stole EVERY SCENE he was apart of. Great Job, RDJ!!! I'm now one of your biggest fans!!!
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