Tropic Thunder

I've never been a huge Ben Stiller fan. I think he tends to overreach at times and it just isn't funny, especially in a feature-length film. There's a bit of that in Tropic Thunder, but not to the Zoolander extent. Fortunately, Stiller was smart enough to surround himself with an amazing (and often hilarious) cast headlined by Robert Downey Jr. Really, he's the one that makes this movie work. It's a shame comedic performances aren't recognized at award time because he'd definitely be in the running for his role as a Russell Crowe-like Australian actor playing the role of an African American platoon sergeant. Jack Black is good too. But there's scores of cameos that really add to the film too. I could name names, but that would ruin some of the surprise performances. Anyway, this is one worth seeing. It works both as a comedy and as a corny action flick. There's some inside-Hollywood stuff thrown in there too, but it never feels as narcissistic or inside jokish as some films treading similar territory. This isn't The Player or State and Main. It's much more accessible, and better off for it.