TROPIC THUNDER
From the original review: “Perhaps that is the best way to label TROPIC THUNDER. It’s a joy. It may not always be a great film, or even a consistent one, but it will make you laugh more times than not – something we need in the dying throes of summer. If along the way you get a film that is a spot on satire that hits more than it misses, a film that manically engages in compounding meta-ness (while simultaneously folding in upon itself) with irreverent glee, … then all the better.” Overall rating: B+
WALL-E
From the original review: “Every now and then you come across a film that reminds you exactly why you go to the movies in the first place. Why you time after time invest two hours of your life to be transported to other worlds, hoping that you will become emotionally wrapped up in them. Hoping to find a character whose emotional world you’re so invested in that every step he or she takes feels like your own. Hoping, above all else, for the sheer joy a movie can provide us. With more joy, more emotion in every frame than anything else you will see this year, WALL-E is exactly why we go to the movies.” Overall rating: A+
Though I stand by what I said earlier about Tom Cruise’s role as an obese, hairy, foul-mouthed, bottom-line coveting megalomaniacal producer, I don’t quite get the wild acclaim he’s receiving for it, especially since the more I think about it, the more I realize something: the only reason it works is because we know its Tom Cruise.
If it were any other actor in the role it wouldn’t elicit a single laugh, and probably just make you squirm in your seat uncomfortably. It just boils down to a one-note comedic character using the “F” word a lot, and that kind of thing gets old fast. Even with Cruise it gets a bit old, in no small part because it’s a nail that keeps getting hammered, and because he’s done this before better, with actual acting and more substance in MAGNOLIA (“Respect the c—k, tame the c—t!”). Nevertheless, it works in TROPIC THUNDER because there is delight to be had in Tom Cruise acting completely contrary to his image (as an actor and otherwise) and doing it with such gleeful zany (dancing) relish. A great performance? No. A fun one? Sure.
These days you have to tread carefully if you want to avoid the wrath of those indulging the over-sensitivity of supposed political correctness. The latest instance is of course the boycott of TROPIC THUNDER by disability groups. You see, in the film Ben Stiller plays an action star who stars in a film called “Simple Jack” (think if Lennie from “Of Mice and Men” starred in his own movie) because he thinks it his best shot at an Oscar since actors like Tom Hanks, Dustin Hoffman, and Daniel Day-Lewis have done well for themselves portraying disabled individuals. Stiller’s character performs Jack as a gross exaggeration of a mentally handicapped person, and it’s the humor derived from that and subsequent conversations about the role that represents the bulk of the disabilities groups’ complaints.
In a rare exception to these boycotts, it seems that the leaders of these groups have actually seen the film. That makes it all the more spectacular that they are this offended.
That’s because they are being “literalists” (to borrow from Jim Emerson’s rant on this matter) and letting the satire fly magnificently right over their head. You see TROPIC THUNDER isn’t offensive because it’s making fun of disabled people, it’s making fun of how offensive Hollywood’s treatment of disabled people is. Most of all, it’s making fun of how actors who take on those roles are generally celebrated with Oscars or nominations. (Steve Martin and Frank Oz’s BOWFINGER also hilariously did this when Eddie Murphy’s superstar character demanded his agent get him a mentally handicapped slave role, because he’d be guaranteed an Academy Award).
If TROPIC THUNDER has accomplished anything, it’s that in being a fantastic satire it’s a refreshing reminder that certain people’s (*cough* DATE MOVIE guys *cough*) determined efforts otherwise, satirical films can be wacky, inane, and funny without being brain dead. Also, did I mention funny?
For someone who has long loved movies about movies, the Ben Stiller directed film was a veritable feast because it’s a brilliant satire of Hollywood and all its empty lofty aspirations. It works above all else because it’s sharply accurate in its targets of true and recognizable Hollywood archetypes(rapper turned actors, Eddie Murphy like hacks, action stars taking themselves too serious, method actors taking themselves too serious) and how it draws hilarity out of all them. Along the way it throws in hilarious satires of kiss-ass agents, Harvey Weinstein like producers, Hollywood greed, Oscar baiting and – of course – war movies and the making of war movies.
During the summer everyone is always talking about anticipating this film or other, but a lot of times the reason we’re looking forward to a particular film is not just its concept, but the acting performances it promises. So with my Top 10 Most Anticipated Summer Movies list already up, I thought I’d highlight a few of the actors – in no particular order - whose work I’m most looking forward to seeing this summer season.
Will Ferrell/John C. Reilly, STEP BROTHERS
These two are a perfect comedic duo, and the concept of STEP BROTHERs – purportedly devised by the two actors themselves – is a perfect, simple vehicle to let their humor shine. Above all else, I’m just so happy to see John C. Reilly finally breakout, even if after years of solid character roles it turned out to be comedy that would get him noticed.
Robert Downey Jr., TROPIC THUNDER
It’s really hard to imagine Downey Jr. could top his performance in IRON MAN, but I’m incredibly curious to see how he is going to pull off playing a white Australian actor who in the film is in turn playing an African American. Inherently it seems like a politically incorrect disaster (then again, the Wayans did turn themselves white a while back), but based on all the trailers it looks like he pulls it off perfectly and – most importantly – hilariously.
Heath Ledger, THE DARK KNIGHT
Before you get the wrong idea, I’m not morbidly looking forward to Ledger’s performance in THE DARK KNIGHT because it was his last. I’m looking forward to it because it looks phenomenal. Based on the trailers, it just blows my mind how Ledger all but disappears into the role of the Joker, both in manner and appearance. It seems like such a seamless melding with the psychopathic spirit of the villain, that HYPERLINK “http://www.cinematical.com/2008/05/14/discuss-could-heath-ledger-land-an-oscar-nod-for-his-dark-knig/” some are already wondering whether it may deserve an Oscar nomination.
Editor’s Note: Our Top 10 Anticipated Summer Movies was actually written in April, but posted late due to theTVaddict’s unfortunate addiction to TV!
Honorable Mentions: THE HAPPENING, THE INCREDIBLE HULK,
Guilty Pleasures: MAMMA MIA!, SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELLING PANTS 2, THE ACCIDENTAL HUSBAND , WANTED, THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR
10. GET SMART (June 20th)
I’ll concede that there’s a pretty substantial chance that GET SMART might not end up being very good. The thing is I grew up loving the TV show (when I lived in Germany the only English-language channel we got was one that played older shows like “Bewitched,” “I Dream of Jennie,” etc), and Steve Carell is ideally suited for the role – both in terms of appearance and humor. I also never cease to enjoy watching The Rock poking fun at himself, nor seeing Anne Hathaway get increasingly more attractive and diverse with her roles.
9. STEP BROTHERS (July 25th)
The interactions between Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly in TALLEDGA NIGHTS were the highlight of the film for me, and the notion of pitting them together as boy-men stepbrothers is nothing short of comedic gold. I mean, I can’t remember the last time I laughed so much during a trailer. The “Did we just become best friends?!” line cracks me up every time. It’s good too to see that Will Ferrell is taking a role that is also ideally suited for his brand of humor (and isn’t making fun of a sport/career).
8. TROPIC THUNDER (August 15th)
Robert Downey Jr. playing an over-the-top method actor playing an African American solider? That’s all I pretty much need right there. But sure, having Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Jay Baruchel, Nick Nolte and a handful of cameos doesn’t hurt either, nor does the film’s motivation to spoof war films like APOCALYPSE NOW and the way they attempted to immerse their actors in the war experience.
I know, I know. Didn’t we just have a trailer round-up last week? Well, that’s the thing about the summer season starting to rev up. The internet pretty much explodes with visually stimulating previews meant to entice you into forgoing all social interactions for some time in a darkened theatre. Or, depending on the film, convincing you to stay home instead.
TROPIC THUNDER – Red Band (NSFW)
I want to like Ben Stiller. He’s done enough good here and there that I want to like him (“Nobody makes me bleed my own blood”), but he just makes it hard by playing the same character over-and-over again and relying on the same comedic shtick (it goes something like this – just in French). It seems with TROPIC THUNDER he’s hit on something though. Not only does the film seem genuinely funny, it seems like it’s a dead on satire of war films and their productions, and impressively (and surprisingly) has more than a little bite, mocking action stars wanting to go dramatic, method actors, and … well, Eddie Murphy. On another note, I noticed in the credits that Ethan Coen helped write this script? How did I not know this till now? That’s amazing!
CITY OF EMBERS
I hadn’t even heard of this film till last week when a poster was revealed, and now this week its trailer. What impresses me most is that it feels like an amalgam of various genres I love. You get the post-apocalyptic feel of an underground city, yet the apocalyptic tension of it dying out on account of a power crisis. In a weird way it’s a prison break movie, but also a NATIONAL TREASURE like scavenger hunt for clues to actually escape. Finally, it’s got a fun, adventure-filled family film tone, but with the dark, industrial look of a film like Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s THE CITY OF LOST CHILDREN. Also you can’t help but look fowrad to Bill Murray, who is so awesome, I’m going to go ahead and consider him a genre.
MAMMA MIA!
I’ve always had a devoted love for whimsical musicals, if not necessarily ABBA. It’s the former that has me rather drawn to this trailer for the film adaptation of the successful Broadway musical (which I never actually saw). Sure, the trailer is a bit grating, what with the whole “three Dads” thing being emphasized every ten seconds, and its annoyingly rapid editing, but what emerges is still the fact that it’s a silly, infectious, and undoubtedly entertaining fluffy musical. You also can’t argue with the cast. I mean, Meryl Streep (who it’s just delightful to see having this much fun), Stellan Skarsgård, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, Julie Waters, and Christine Baranski? I’m particularly excited to see two of my favorite young and up-and-comers Dominic Cooper (HISTORY BOYS, STARTER FOR 10) and Amanda Seyfried (“Veronica Mars,” NINE LIVES, MEAN GIRLS) get a high profile film gig.
PINEAPPLE EXPRESS
To be frank, I have no idea what people are so excited about here. Okay, I do. It’s written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (SUPERBAD), and produced by Judd Apatow. That should really be enough. The thing is I didn’t find the teaser trailer, the red band trailer, nor the most recent trailer really that funny. There are a few gems, sure, like the “I’m kind of flabbergasted when you say things like that” bit, but for the most part it roused a might “meh” out of me. Maybe it’s just that I’ve never been much drawn to the slacker-stoner genre, or maybe it’s just that it’s not that funny.
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