Tropic Thunder

Who: Matt (roommate) and Me
What: Tropic Thunder
Where: AMC Pleasure Island
Why: John Stewart said it was funny

A politically incorrect comedy about a troupe of actors that find themselves in the middle of real jungle being shot at by real guerilla soldiers, though they think it's all a set. Robert Downey Jr. gives one of his best performances as "the dude playing the dude disguised as another dude!" Stiller is typical Zoolander-like funny. More than a chuckle, but not quite belly laugh worthy.

I will say that I didn't realize it was rated R and was caught off guard several times (beginning with the opening scene) as to the vulgarity of this film. It certainly had it's moments of heavy laughter, but there was also many times of lull. Jack Black's character tries too hard to be humorous and misses 9 times out of 10.

In general this film is a satire about the excesses of Hollywood and the casting director couldn't have picked a better person to play the role of studio head Les Grossman than Tom Cruise. His atypical role will either crack you up or leave you feeling awkward.

All in all, I give it a rating of 2 1/2 out of 5 stars. If you haven't already scene it, wait until it comes out on DVD. Then see it if you're a Ben Stiller fan or have run out of options on a boring Saturday night.