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Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Nick Nolte, Steve Coogan ... see more see more... , Jay Baruchel , Danny McBride , Brandon T. Jackson , Bill Hader , Brandon Soo Hoo , Reggie Lee , Trieu Tran , Eric Winzenreid , Matthew McConaughey , Valerie Azlynn , Tom Cruise , Matt Levin , Amy Stiller , David Pressman , Justin Theroux , Dempsey Silva

Ben Stiller's satirical look at Hollywood, Tropic Thunder concerns the production of an epic Vietnam War film that quickly derails thanks to the giant egos of everyone involved in the production. Stil... read more read more...ler stars as Tugg Speedman, an action hero trying to segue out of that genre. Jack Black plays Jeff Portnoy, a drug-addicted fat comic also attempting to change his image by taking on such a serious film. They star alongside Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.), one of the world's most awarded actors, and a man who insists on immersing himself totally in a role. In this case, that means Lazarus has had his skin dyed in order to portray an African-American soldier. After their outrageous behavior lands the film's director, Damien Cockburn (Steve Coogan), in very hot water with producer Les Grossman (Tom Cruise), Cockburn takes the advice of grizzled Vietnam vet Four Leaf Tayback (Nick Nolte); in order to gain control of his performers, Cockburn drops the actors off in the jungle, planning to film the movie guerrilla-style with hidden cameras. When the group stumbles upon a heroin production camp, the actors are unaware that they are in very real danger. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Flixster Users

69% liked it

248,395 ratings

Critics

83% liked it

226 critics

R, 1 hr. 46 min.

Directed by: Ben Stiller

Release Date: August 13, 2008

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DVD Release Date: November 18, 2008

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Stats: 32,782 reviews

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Tropic Thunder Jay Baruchel Robert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder Jay Baruchel Rebecca Sandusky Jay Baruchel BARUCHEL as Kevin Sandusky tropic thunder Kirk Lazarus - Satan's Alley The New Three Stooges Jeff Portnoy Kirk Lazarus Tropic Thunder Tugg Speedman Tropic Thunder. Tropic Thunder Speedman in Scorcher VI
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Flixster Reviews (32,782)

  • jmanard52
    January 12, 2009
    jmanard52
    This is the normal Ben Stiller fare. Throw in Jack Black and this is what you get. Downey I liked as the black sgt who is australian but really into his role. Other than that it really did seem like another Stiller flick. Same ol same ol.
  • phubbs1
    May 6, 2012
    phubbs1
    So Ben Stiller wants to be in a Nam flick, OK sure, shame he missed the boat for that era, and this is why he made this film im guessing? why? well we all know the outfit of the average grunt in Nam films looks cool, the easy, laid back, dont give a shit style with ammo belts and... read more guns hanging of everyone. Just check all the classic war flicks of the time...being in a Nam film was a cool thing and that's the only reason Stiller and co have made this because there's just no other reason for it.

    Its poor, not funny and just pointless, the film looks good location wise but that's it, the cast is impressive but who cares, Stiller isn't funny, Downey is shit in all his personalities, McConaughey is his usual slimey, embarrassingly bad self and Tom Cruise is just terrible...simply awful. Black is the only person with some decent funny bits but we're only talking SMALL bits.

    The plot is a total rip of the much funnier and classic 'The Three Amigo's', 'TT' doesn't even compare to Martin, Chase and Short, 'Amigo's' was cheaper and tacky yet its leagues better than this. You never have any real idea where Stiller and co are in the world, who the guerilla's in the jungle are and why, why a child leads them and frankly you dont really care, the film is made in such a way that it comes across as a serious action flick but then remembers its a comedy and throws in some stupid gag or just resorts to mindless swearing hoping that will suffice.

    The ending is crap and isn't explained (someone just pops up and saves the day) and basically it isn't funny...ever. Tom Cruise cannot do comedy, even in silly makeup...embarrassing ain't the word.
  • fb1576983399
    May 5, 2012
    fb1576983399
    A very unique movie with an unforgettable performance by Robert Downey Jr. The whole cast does a great job, but Downey's Oscar worthy performance elevates this movie to another level. The dialogue requires a sharp ear to follow, but is absolutely hilarious if you keep up.
  • scottgreen96
    March 24, 2012
    scottgreen96
    A genuine american hardcore film with the actors having no idea, which creates many good laughs, and jack black addicted to crack.
  • aquateen2
    February 27, 2012
    aquateen2
    Tropic Thunder is the rare action comedy in which you can sustain interest for about 2 hours. Robert Downey Jr. steals the show with his Oscar nominated performance as an actor playing another actor who's playing a black vietnam veteran. Tropic Thunder makes the most of its cast ... read morewith each member of the platoon bringing laughs to the clever, witty plotline that's essentialy a satire on everything in Hollywood never breaking the illusion that what were watching is actors playing actors in a movie that is to be honest a very good one.
  • fb535316333
    June 14, 2011
    fb535316333
    Too disgustingly hilarious to hate, too shallow to take seriously and too entertaining to critique. Just fun.
  • DreamExtractor
    June 11, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    Tropic thunder dishes out laugh one by one and it keeps us laughing the whole time. I have heard of few movies as origianl as this, espically a comedy. It has a certain charm with the actors and jokes that maes us want more, and to see these guys again. It has a great setting,... read more it disses the real life starts of there own characters, and it makes fun of the movie industry itself. Such a weird situation can only be fit by a hilarious movie.
  • ythelastman89
    March 2, 2011
    ythelastman89
    I might have my reservations with this, but certain elements make this movie a bonafide classic. I think this really could have been the end all, say all of hollywood reflection if Tom Cruise was the Tugg Speedman character because then all the stars would have been self parodies... read more. Now that isn't to say that Tom Cruise doesn't give a tour de force as Les Grossman, it just would've been better had maybe Ben Stiller taken on that role. Throwing Ben Stiller in the Tugg Speedman role is amusing, but it doesn't have the impact it should. What makes Jack Black's performance as Jeff Portnoy so great is the fact that he's done things like this in his career. I think in terms of cinematography and set choices, Tropic Thunder is one of the most well shot and best looking comedies ever made. It really is beautiful. Ben Stiller is a lot better director than most people give him credit for and he even has this really nice signature style. Now the main reason this movie has as high regard for me as it does is for one man, one performance, one stroke of genius. Robert Downey Jr.'s flat out bizarre take on the 70's "black man" is probably one of the funniest things ever thought up. Whether it's a Black Panther get-up, crazy power burns or blatantly stereotyped "black voice", everything seems as though it is natural and amazing in every way. Actually, by the end when Kirk Lazarus comes back, the role becomes even more deeply defined and kind've a really important analysis of the method actor. A role like this is something that should be remembered forever.
  • CreedsDelight
    January 31, 2011
    CreedsDelight
    So funny. An instant classic.

    Grade: A-
  • fb619846742
    January 5, 2011
    fb619846742
    A very solid comedy which takes skilled jabs at the Hollywood industry. It's a better version of "Bowfinger", when it comes to movies making fun of how movies are made, pretty much. Throw in a masterful turn from one Robert Downey Jr. and good direction by Ben Stiller - this thin... read moreg is just fun. It occasionally gets a little too silly and Jack Black is sort of wasted but overall, I laughed consistently, especially at the beginning of the movie which has hilarious takes on movie trailers.

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Critic Reviews

Tom Charity
October 18, 2008
Tom Charity, CNN.com

Though some of the caricatures wear thin, some of the acting rises to a high level. Full Review

Christopher Orr
September 18, 2008
Christopher Orr, New Republic

For years now, onscreen and off, [Tom] Cruise has seemed like a bottle of barely contained crazy; now we know what happens when the cork comes out. Full Review

Richard Roeper
August 18, 2008
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

Some of it is very funny, some of it is too broad.

Anthony Lane
August 18, 2008
Anthony Lane, New Yorker

After the dazzle of the early scenes, something droops and flags in Tropic Thunder. Full Review

Peter Rainer
August 15, 2008
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor

Tropic Thunder passes for "daring" in a movie era notably short on risk-taking. In the case of Downey, that daring is earned. Full Review

Joanne Kaufman
August 15, 2008
Joanne Kaufman, Wall Street Journal

A gleeful, bumptious send-up of big-budget movies, big Hollywood egos. Full Review

J. R. Jones
August 13, 2008
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

The rest of the movie never lives up to the hilarity of the opening, partly because the large-scale production smothers the gags but mostly because those gags are so easy to smother. Full Review

Claudia Puig
August 13, 2008
Claudia Puig, USA Today

There are some wildly funny scenes, a few leaden ones and others that are scattershot, with humorous satire undercut by over-the-top grisliness. Still, when it's funny, it's really funny. Full Review

Peter Howell
August 13, 2008
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

What keeps everything from imploding are Downey and Cruise, who are willing to push every audience button and damn the politically correct torpedoes. Full Review

Dana Stevens
August 13, 2008
Dana Stevens, Slate

Anyone walking into Tropic Thunder looking to be offended by Downey's minstrel turn will soon find that the movie is two steps ahead. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Jeff Portnoy: Your just because I'm skinny.
    • Kirk Lazarus: Im a land farmer, MOTHA FUCKA!
    • Kirk Lazarus: You went full retard...NEVER go full retard.
    • Kirk Lazarus: Suck my unit!
    • Kirk Lazarus: Man, everybody's gay once in a while.
    • Kirk Lazarus: [A Speedman is racing towards the chopper, getting shot repeatedly] SURVIVE!
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Tropic Thunder Trivia

  • Name the actress: The Brady Bunch Movie Zoolander Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story License to Wed Tropic Thunder  Answer »
  • Who among the following is not present in the movie, TROPIC THUNDER  Answer »
  • In which movie Robert Downey JR says:I'm a dude playing a dude,disguised as a another dude.  Answer »
  • Tropic thunder: Jack Black's character, Jeff Portnoy, is partially based on Chris Farley.  Answer »
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