In July someone posted a trailer for "Tropic Thunder" in the Film Group Blog. I wrote in the comments section that I'd pay not to see this film. Well on mature reflection, I decided that I should not arbitrarily rule out watching anything, especially as I write a review Blog. Mainstream American comedies are big box office and have a substantial fan base. So I dutifully sat down today and watched "Tropic Thunder" with an open and objective mind.

Now this film has had enough press coverage (not all of it good) so I do not have to summarise the plot. For a comedy film this has a very substantial budget ($90,000,000), but obviously a lot of this has gone on the visual effects and possibly Tom Cruise's salary (Where you aware he appears in it?). The film has some very interesting writing credits including Ethan Cohen, which naturally raises expectations. The high concept plot, although unoriginal, has potential and certainly is populated with at first glance, interesting caricatures. Before the film actually starts, we are treated to some well observed bogus film trailers, for the fictitious actors we are about to see in the feature presentation.

15 minutes later, any aspirations to make a cutting satire on Hollywood action films, genre stardom, and an attempt to "bite the hand that feeds it" are squandered and we are left with just another bland, obvious, unsophisticated, crass, insufficiently funny American studio comedy. What's more there's another 75 minutes to go. I was not surprised by this though. Frankly, the main problem with this film is it's stars.

Ben Stiller is in my opinion not talented enough to carry a film. The same could be said about Jack Black. We have however seen glimpses of his versatility (I particularly liked his performance in "King Kong" and "School Of Rock"). But Stiller is simply a one trick pony. A comedian or comic actor (and they are not the same thing) requires insight, subtlety and timing among there diverse skills. There is scant evidence of this in his performance. What we therefore left with is a movie that squanders what talent it does have. Robert Downey's crazed method actor once established doesn't go anywhere. Nick Nolte, given a plum role as a disturbed handicap veteran, is given nothing to do. The once talent Steve Coogan, simple treads water, pandering to the most obvious stereotypes about the British.

So what do we get? Explosions and gross out comedy violence. More explosions. A bald Tom Cruise swearing and shaking his booty. Some jokes about actors substance addictions and some misfired jokes about race politics and the mentally handicapped, that should have been bitingly satirical, but are so heavy handed that there point is lost. That in fact is the main failing of the film. The execution is poor and the material does not live up to it's potential. The stars, especially Stiller and simply not talented enough (apart from Downey Jr.)and certainly do not understand what constitutes satire. If you lower your expectations then "Tropic Thunder" may suffice. But for me the old cliché of "see the trailer and you've seen the film" has proven true.

XoD.