Tropic Thunder

A greatly successful comedy that garnered impressive reviews, Tropic Thunder did not impress me too much. Based on what I had heard, it sounded like one of the greatest comedies ever made, but in the end it turned out to be the usual Ben Stiller slapstick tour de force that never elicits more than a few giggles.

Yes, the acting was good, and impressive above all were Robert Downey Jr.'s portrayal of a black man, which landed him his second Oscar nomination, and a barely recognizable Tom Cruise in perhaps his most histrionic role to date. Unfortunately, both Stiller and Jack Black simply played new versions of the same characters they always portray. Yawn ... zzzzz ...

Technically, the movie is incredibly well made, from visual effects to set design to makeup, and the screenplay isn't bad, aside from the too-far-out-there scenes that never impress me and always disappoint.

I give it a passing grade for the effort but I wouldn't watch it again.

Grade: 6

PS: how many hours does Matthew McConaughey spend exercising to keep up such an incredible physical shape??