Tropic Thunder

Tropic Thunder is a screwball comedy about actors who mistakenly believe they are shooting a movie when they are dropped into a warzone.

The story centers on the filming of the semi-autobiographical Tropic Thunder. Four actors, Tugg Speedman (played by Ben Stiller), Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey, Jr.), Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black) and Alpa Chino (Brandon T. Jackson), are taken to location to shoot a movie chronicling the life and battle stories of a Vietnam veteran. However, what they don't know is that they've been dropped into territory controlled by drug dealers. From there it's a dangerous, and hilarious battle for survival.

The best part of this film, by far, was the acting of Robert Downey, Jr. as Kirk Lazarus. He stole the show as an Australian method actor who had his pigmentation changed to play a black man in the movie. His gruff demeanor and attitude really sold him as a black man.

The aspect of this film I didn't like was the fact that the word, "retard," was bandied about so freely. It is a word to which the mentally handicapped wholly object, and it shouldn't have been used repeatedly. Once or twice for the sake of comedy I can see, but repeated use of it is not funny at all.

If you're looking for an excellent comedy with a wonderful cast, see Tropic Thunder.