Tropic Thunder

BEN Stiller’s directorial debut had the promise of the comedy equilovent of a world war.
But after 107 minutes of luke warm gags, it seems Tropic Thunder can only muster that of a minor skirmish.
Some cinema goers and critics may have praised the film for its refreshingly different and inventive set up but a great premise is not enough when the film does not deliver on its most important commodity — laughs.
Here, real movie stars play fictional movie stars, who think they are shooting a Vietnam War movie, but are in fact hopelessly lost and in the dangerous territory of the ‘Flaming Dragon’ gang.
It starts well with fictional trailers of the stars’ other ‘recent films’, and then goes on to ridicule their spoilt self indulgence and egotism as part of a broad satire on the cult of celebrity.

The best character by a mile is ever-charming Robert Downey Jr’s Kirk Lazarus — an Australian who has a controversial cosmetic operation to bag the role of one of the black characters.
Also expect Jack Black, Tom Cruise, Steve Coogan, Matthew McConaughey and Nick Nolte — all great mates of Mr Stiller, no doubt.
With such a stellar cast, you’d expect the belly laughs to be as thick and fast as a hail of bullets but it rarely delivers.
Strangely enough, Tom Cruise (as you’ve never seen him before) is the funniest, whereas comedy stalwart Jack Black might as well have just stayed at home.
An accomplished disappointment, Tropic Thunder certainly hints at better things to come from director Ben Stiller...