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Aug 13, 2008 · Tropic Thunder: Directed by Ben Stiller. With Jeff Kahn, Robert Downey Jr., Anthony Ruivivar, Jack Black. Through a series of freak occurrences, a group of actors shooting a big-budget war movie are forced to become the soldiers they are portraying.
- (453K)
- Action, Comedy, War
- Ben Stiller
- 2008-08-13
Tropic Thunder is a 2008 satirical action comedy film directed by Ben Stiller, who wrote the screenplay with Justin Theroux and Etan Cohen. The film stars Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Jay Baruchel, and Brandon T. Jackson as a group of prima donna actors making a Vietnam War film.
- The RDJ Tropic Thunder Blackface Was In-Universe
- How RDJ's Blackface Managed to Not Be Controversial
- How Jamie Foxx Brought Back The RDJ Blackface Discussion in 2022
- Blackface Isn't The only Tropic Thunder Controversy
- Being Self-Aware Isn't Always Justification
The Blackface Is A Commentary On The Problematic Use Of Black Actors In Hollywood
Robert Downey Jr. isn't playing a Black character in Tropic Thunder — he's playing a white actor who decides to portray a Black American in the fictional war movie. Kirk Lazarus is clearly portrayed as white at the start of the movie, and the distinction matters. The Tropic Thunder blackface was a depiction of a fictional white actor using blackface and rightly being called out for it, rather than a return to the repugnant genuine use of blackface from eras gone. Given the incredibly racist h...
The Movie Trusted The Audience To Understand The Real Joke
Kirk's method acting ends up playing a pivotal role in Tropic Thunder's movie climax. After Tugg is kidnapped by the heroin-producing Flaming Dragon gang and forced to perform his problematic film Simple Jack every night, Tugg has a crisis of identity. Kirk recognizes it, having experienced it himself. In an attempt to help Tugg as himself rather than as his character, Kirk finally sheds his mask. It's a hilarious and rather succinct way to also mock the sometimes inexplicable things method a...
Can Downey Jr. Pull Off The Same Joke Twice?
For his part, Ben Stiller doesn't regret Tropic Thunder to this day, and continues to vocally defend the movie. However, Stiller isn't universally agreed with in Hollywood on this. To some, Robert Downey Jr.'s turn as a method actor willing to don blackface for a movie was not only acceptable but an outright hit. Jamie Foxx reached out to RDJ after Tropic Thunder about playing a Mexican man in his directorial project, All-Star Weekend. According to Foxx, Much like Tropic Thunder, the goal of...
Is The Simple Jack Joke Satire Or Offensive?
While Tropic Thunder hasn't been pulled from distribution because of Robert Downey Jr.'s blackface, it's fair to say that it wasn't universally accepted as appropriate. As commentators like Jamie Foxx prove, the debate around blackface and Tropic Thunder's use of it is incredibly nuanced, regardless of the intent. However, blackface isn't the only controversy surrounding Tropic Thunder, as Black Americans aren't the only marginalized group utilized by Ben Stiller's movie to critique the movie...
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia's Use Of Blackface Was Met With Harsher Responses
Despite the Tropic Thunder blackface issue getting little to no backlash, self-awareness doesn't always justify choices like this. The movie certainly wouldn't work in today's climate, and it's surprising that it was able to slide back in 2008. Another cinematic product tried to use blackface for comedic effect in 2010. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is known for being an irreverent comedy about a bunch of narcissists who own a bar, and the TV series has been panned for being racist on mor...
Feb 20, 2024 · Does Robert Downey Jr.’s Most Divisive Role Still Hold Up Today? Tropic Thunder lampooned 2000s Hollywood in a way that feels surprisingly relevant to 2020s Hollywood. by Lyvie Scott
👇We Have A Patreon!👇https://patreon.com/didyoucatchthisRobert Downey Jr. in Tropic Thunder: A Bold and Controversial PerformanceIn the 2008 comedy Tropic T...
- 4 min
- 169
- Did You Catch This?
Aug 13, 2018 · Written, directed, and produced by Ben Stiller, the movie sits Certified Fresh at 82% on the Tomatometer and earned Robert Downey Jr. a Supporting Actor Oscar
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Tropic Thunder (2008) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
