Tropic Thunder

Have you ever met up with an old high school buddy, but after five minutes of conversation you think to yourself "Geez, way to not grow up, guy." He's still telling the same adolescent jokes, and talks about his boss in the same juvenile way you two used to talk about a despised grade 10 teacher, and he asks what you're doing Friday night because he's going to do an all-nighter at the bar and wouldn't it be fun to relive the good ol' days ... except you're pretty sure he's relived them every Friday and Saturday night so the concept is actually good and old. It's painful and it's pitiful, and you just want to tell the guy not necessarily act his age -- because who's to say how that age is supposed to act -- but to at least give evolving a shot.

Watching Ben Stiller strikes me as that painful and pitiful. I used to think he was funny ... but I also used to pass out on the floor of 2nd Henday after a unit party because it was just less hassle than finding my way to my feet and going to my residence room. Ironically, how he has directed his actors and the script he gave them painfully illustrates just how pitiful Stiller has become. This is a funny movie. Stupid adolescent gore, sure. Kind of ridiculous premise, okay. But what the previews don't tell you is that not all the characters in this movie think they are still filming a movie in the jungle. (In fact, the moment the actors are given the first clue that they are in over their head is probably the most hilarious moment of the whole movie, because they all play it so very straight and shocked it is a brilliant moment of understatement.) Only Stiller's character is so vapid and clueless to believe the movie is still being shot -- and I submit it is because only Stiller is so vapid and clueless to think that would be funny. The other characters (and I submit, actors) are just not that dumb. And that's the case for this whole movie. Lift Stiller out, and this movie is a keeper. Mercifully, Stiller's character leaves the other characters maybe a third or half way through the movie, so you can enjoy really good scenes with the other characters interacting without having to suffer Stiller. When the story switches back to Stiller, you just wait it out patiently ... you will be rewarded when the story returns to ANY other characters and subplots. Every one except the one with Stiller is entertaining. I have to give him credit for the script he created and direction he gave ... I just wish he didn't have an acting credit here.

(oh, and there's lots of buzz about Tom Cruise's cameo in this movie. big whoop. the guy plays a nut job. where's the stretch?) Verdict: Discount Theatre.