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Tropic Thunder (2008)

tomatometer

83

Average Rating: 7.1/10
Reviews Counted: 225
Fresh: 186 | Rotten: 39

With biting satire, plenty of subversive humor, and an unforgettable turn by Robert Downey, Jr., Tropic Thunder is a triumphant late Summer comedy.

83

Average Rating: 6.9/10
Critic Reviews: 41
Fresh: 34 | Rotten: 7

With biting satire, plenty of subversive humor, and an unforgettable turn by Robert Downey, Jr., Tropic Thunder is a triumphant late Summer comedy.

audience

69

liked it
Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 248,395

My Rating

Movie Info

Ben Stiller's satirical look at Hollywood, Tropic Thunder concerns the production of an epic Vietnam War film that quickly derails thanks to the giant egos of everyone involved in the production. Stiller stars as Tugg Speedman, an action hero trying to segue out of that genre. Jack Black plays Jeff Portnoy, a drug-addicted fat comic also attempting to change his image by taking on such a serious film. They star alongside Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr.), one of the world's most awarded actors,

R, 1 hr. 46 min.

Comedy

Ben Stiller, Justin Theroux, Etan Cohen

Nov 18, 2008

$110.4M

DreamWorks/Paramount Studios

Cast

All Critics (225) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (193) | Rotten (40) | DVD (26)

Though some of the caricatures wear thin, some of the acting rises to a high level.

October 18, 2008 Full Review Source: CNN.com | Comments (5)
CNN.com
Top Critic IconTop Critic

For years now, onscreen and off, [Tom] Cruise has seemed like a bottle of barely contained crazy; now we know what happens when the cork comes out.

September 18, 2008 Full Review Source: New Republic | Comment
New Republic
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Some of it is very funny, some of it is too broad.

August 18, 2008 Comments (5)
Ebert & Roeper
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After the dazzle of the early scenes, something droops and flags in Tropic Thunder.

August 18, 2008 Full Review Source: New Yorker | Comments (8)
New Yorker
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Tropic Thunder passes for "daring" in a movie era notably short on risk-taking. In the case of Downey, that daring is earned.

August 15, 2008 Full Review Source: Christian Science Monitor | Comment
Christian Science Monitor
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A gleeful, bumptious send-up of big-budget movies, big Hollywood egos.

August 15, 2008 Full Review Source: Wall Street Journal | Comment
Wall Street Journal
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Comes down to exactly the same type of heroic finale they're supposed to be parodying in the first place. You bettah off renting Rescue Dawn.

August 15, 2011 Full Review Source: East Bay Express | Comment
East Bay Express

A clever structure, glorious ensemble cast and above all conviction ensure that laughter will be rippling like thunder inside the cinema.

July 14, 2011 Full Review Source: Digital Spy | Comment
Digital Spy

There are a lot of sacred entertainment industry cows being sent to the slaughter, and Stiller & co. skewer every stereotype with vicious glee.

June 12, 2010 Full Review Source: DCist | Comment

Not a third as "dark" or "ferocious" as it believes it is

August 26, 2009 Full Review Source: CinePassion | Comments (7)
CinePassion

bilo je te%u0161ko izbje%u0107i jo%u0161 jednu tre%u0161nju holivudske gore koja je rodila mi%u0161a

July 15, 2009 Full Review Source: Index.hr | Comments (6)

Sure, there are some moments when the plot falls right down a gun barrel, the comedy is too over the top and the jokes are downright gross. Still, in comparison to the other slapstick comedies this year, this movie-within-a-movie strikes above the rest.

July 7, 2009 Full Review Source: BET.com | Comment
BET.com

Sounds predictable and academic, but what's unexpected is how deftly Stiller manages to explore these issues and allude to war films from The Bridge on the River Kwai to Platoon to Rambo while still recognizing the value of a well-placed fart joke.

April 23, 2009 Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | Comment
Boston Phoenix

Tropic Thunder is one humongous vanity project for Ben Stiller. His initials aren't BS for nothing. If you can't get enough of bouncing Ben, Tropic Thunder is the movie for you. Ben Stiller acted in, co-wrote, produced, and directed Tropi

February 1, 2009 Full Review Source: Fayetteville Free Weekly | Comments (13)
Fayetteville Free Weekly

Is this a comedy -- or a cry for help?

January 12, 2009 Full Review Source: ÜberCiné | Comments (4)
ÜberCiné

Tropic Thunder turns out to be a very funny film with an immensely talented cast that will be the topic of any water cooler conversation.

January 4, 2009 Full Review Source: Entertainment Spectrum | Comment

Stiller's parody of Hollywood opportunism and insecurities is fairly lacerating, but perhaps could've been more so had not the whole thing been played so broadly.

December 31, 2008 Full Review Source: Window to the Movies | Comment
Window to the Movies

Cruise is downright scary. It's the creepiest -- and most entertaining -- performance since his unforgettable appearance in that Scientology video.

December 21, 2008 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | Comments (2)
TV Guide's Movie Guide

The action movie has been spoofing itself for years. Half of the time it's no even intentional. Ben Stiller's hilarious and surprisingly intelligent Tropic Thunder takes the genre spoof to a new extreme.

December 8, 2008 Full Review Source: Movie Views | Comment

Tropic Thunder focuses its satire on this Hollywoodization of war, as it depicts the production of a Vietnam genre film that's less "Platoon" than "Platoon Leader" with Michael Dudikoff.

December 6, 2008 Full Review Source: CinemaBlend.com | Comment
CinemaBlend.com

A journey into Hollywood's heart of darkness.

November 20, 2008 Full Review Source: Film Snobs | Comment
Film Snobs
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Tropic Thunder

This is the normal Ben Stiller fare. Throw in Jack Black and this is what you get. Downey I liked as the black sgt who is australian but really into his role. Other than that it really did seem like another Stiller flick. Same ol same ol.

September 3, 2008
jmanard52

Super Reviewer

A very unique movie with an unforgettable performance by Robert Downey Jr. The whole cast does a great job, but Downey's Oscar worthy performance elevates this movie to another level. The dialogue requires a sharp ear to follow, but is absolutely hilarious if you keep up.

April 24, 2011
Sanjay Rema

Super Reviewer

    1. Kirk Lazarus: Suck my unit!
    – Submitted by Sean C (11 days ago)
    1. Kirk Lazarus: Man, everybody's gay once in a while.
    – Submitted by Villie Emmanuel S (43 days ago)
    1. Kirk Lazarus: [A Speedman is racing towards the chopper, getting shot repeatedly] SURVIVE!
    – Submitted by Anatasia B (2 months ago)
    1. Kirk Lazarus: [to Tugg after talking to Sandusky] For some reason he smells like bologna.
    – Submitted by Anatasia B (2 months ago)
    1. Kirk Lazarus: I'm the dude playin' the dude, disguised as another dude!
    – Submitted by Anatasia B (2 months ago)

Latest News for Tropic Thunder

June 10, 2010:
Paramount Announces Les Grossman Project
Paramount has announced plans to give Les Grossman, the profane, portly movie exec played by Tom...

January 8, 2009:
Broadcast Film Critics Name Critics' Choice Winners
The 14th Annual Critics' Choice Awards were given on January 8, 2009, to honor the finest...

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Foreign Titles

  • Tonnerre sous les Tropiques (FR)
  • Tropic Thunder, una guerra muy perra (ES)
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