Tropic Thunder

Lets get one thing out in the open right now, I don't like Ben Stiller. He's probably a real cool guy and so sweet that when he comes he shoots strawberry milkshake, but every time that I see him I just think that he is one smug bastard short of an Olympic event for smug bastards. I have yet to ever like a character that he has played and I really doubt that I ever will, so Tropic Thunder immediately lost points here.

Now, lets talk about my cinema experience for the evening. Got my ticket, got my coke and wee small tub of Pringles for people who accept that they are a fat bastard but don't want to do anything about it, got to the screen. I was the only one there.

FUCKING SCORE!

It could only have been better if the brunette usher girl gave me a lap dance during the end credits.

Things started off well with a spoof ad for Booty Sweat by the 'real' black man of the group Alpa Chino, followed by three spoof trailers that I have to admit were brilliant send ups of their respective genres.

So lets get into 'the shit' as they say in 'Nam.

The story is complete and utter balls. Really.

But that's ok because in reality this is a character driven movie and I have to admit that the characterizations were superb from start to finish.

Jack Black is fabulous as the funny man of the group who is very much aware of the source of his humour and covers his pain through liberal doses of angst and heroin. The show however is stolen by Robert Downey Jr, the blonde Australian who has had pigmentation surgery in order to play the black sergeant, and who takes his role just a little bit too seriously.

The effects are beautifully over the top, especially in the opening minutes where at one point the explosions filled so much of the screen that I actually felt my penis twitch.

The dialogue is witty and sharp, with one especially memorable occasion when Downey's 5 times Academy Award winning actor character is giving Stiller's washed up action hero actor character a few tips, like how he should never have went full retard in the fictional 'Simple Jack'.

Now whilst I said Robert Downey Jr steals the show, I have to tell you that the best character is the boss Les Grossman. I heard him speak and said 'he sounds like Tom Cruise', he smiled and I said 'he smiles like Tom Cruise'. Then during the end credits I saw that it was fucking Tom Cruise, didn't recognize him at all, and it was awesome. I laugh just thinking about the character because he is just the most phenomenal bastard on all levels.

Anyway, you've probably gathered by now my opinion on Tropic Thunder, so I'm going to go away now.

Rating: B