Tropic Thunder

Ben Stiller typically only plays three roles in his comedic films. He’s either an insanely uptight average lovelorn male (There’s Something About Mary, Along Came Polly);the intensely brooding egotistical villain (Dodge ball, Happy Gilmore); or an intensely brooding egotistical yet well-meaning dummy (Zoo lander). It’s this latter role he slips into for Tropic Thunder, but rather than suffocate us with one character’s parade of stupidity, under his own direction, Stiller uses his character’s shortcomings as a device to set the plot of one of the best comedies in years into motion.

Tropic Thunder is the tale of a Hollywood war movie gone so over budget with a cast so out of control in the early stages of production that the director (Steve Coogan) has no choice but to resort to drastic measures to get it on track again. In order to deal with the massive egos of a comedy superstar (Jack Black), an Oscar-winning method actor (Robert Downey Jr.), and a past his prime action hero (Stiller), that are hindering his production and a lack of confidence from the studio head (masterfully played by Tom Cruise), the director takes the advice of the films on set war hero (Nick Nolte) and takes his actors off the comfort of the set and into the thick of the war zone to complete his Vietnam masterpiece.

He sets up cameras and with the help of the Danny McBride’s pyrotechnic specialist rigs the jungle for battle. Unfortunately the director fails to foresee the danger of landmines, in a hilarious sequence, and the actors with script in hand are left to fend for themselves. While the cast treks through the jungle in the hopes they can make it out alive and rescue Stiller’s character, whom despite his poor sense of direction and refusal to attend the pre-film boot camp, thinks he can successfully finish all of his parts and navigate the jungle if he goes off on his own. The rest of the cast’s time in the jungle is marked by often uproariously funny arguments as to Downey Jr’s dedication to his craft, as well as typical war film soldier talk, like if the men have a girl back home that’s waiting on them.

Besides the generally side-splitting nature of most of the dialogue, the film’s biggest accomplishment is achieving what the doomed war film within the movie cannot achieve, and that’s a balance between all of the main talents. While Downey Jr. in black face more or less steals the show, Jay Baruchel and Brandon T. Jackson do more than admirable jobs as the straight man glue that holds this picture together. After all if you had the drug addled funnyman (Jack Black), the method acting expert, and the egotistical action hero (Stiller) parading around the jungle in three different directions, this film would go nowhere.

Tropic Thunder is chock full of pleasant surprises. Whether it’s Matthew McConaughey’s turn as a Tivo obsessed agent, or Tom Cruise’s ability to actually prove that he has a sense of humor…and a pretty decent one at that…there aren’t many misses in this sure-fire new comedy classic. In a summer season that’s been quite a delight already, Tropic Thunder is yet another victory for filmmakers and film goers alike.

Star Wars Thunder Storms

Things are heating up once again at the box office. After The Dark Knight held of Pineapple Express for the #1 spot last weekend, three other rather big releases look to have a legitimate go at dethroning the last couple of weeks’ de facto #1 box office smash. For fans who haven’t been disappointed enough by George Lucas’s recent output, The animated Star Wars:The Clone Wars will surely fill in the gap of anything Star Wars fans missed between Attack of The Clones and Revenge of The Sith. Unfortunately, since both of those films were awful there really seems to be nothing too appealing about the prospect of another chapter. It’s not going to salvage the wrong that has been done. I guess on the positive side, due to it’s drawn nature there won’t be any horribly wooden live action performances thanks to Lucas’s lack of skill in directing actors. I think New York Film Academy has classes on directing actors George. It’s never too late to learn.

One filmmaker who is no stranger to eliciting excellent performances from his talent is Woody Allen, and he’s pretty much got the pick of the acting talent litter in his latest, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, hitting theaters this weekend; Scarlett Johanson, Javier Bardem, and Penelope Cruz in one movie. That’s one big pile of good lookin’…and they can act too! Oh…and Scarlett can also sing as word has it that her album of Tom Waits covers is actually pretty decent.

Speaking of talented ensembles, our last but not least significant release of the week is the Ben Stiller directed Tropic Thunder (which he also co-wrote with Justin Theroux). Now, I’ve had my problems with Stiller in the past, mostly because I have no idea why either Meet The Parents movies might be misconstrued as slightly comical, but the trailer alone sold me on this one with Robert Downey Jr. mining the depths of political incorrectness in blackface as “a dude, playing a dude, disguised as another dude.” Joining in on the war comedy high jinks is an able cast consisting of the director himself, Jack Black, Steve Coogan, Nick Nolte, and cameos from the likes of Tom Cruise and Matthew McConaughey. Tropic Thunder looks to have the ammo or at least the battle plan (sorry for the horrible war metaphors) to knock The Dark Knight out of the top spot. After all, I think what this nation could use right now is a quality war comedy that has nothing to do with Larry The Cable Guy.

This blog is published by The Film School & Acting School at the New York Film Academy. Visit our website to learn more about our exciting curriculum!

Pineapple Express Can’t Derail Batman

If any film was going to knock The Dark Knight from it’s perch atop the box office this week, it was most certainly going to be the Stoner Action/Comedy on Pineapple Express. While the Judd Apatow produced feature came close with $23.2 million, Batman continued to soar above expectations and ever closer to $500 Million by reeling in another 26.1 big ones. Maybe the James Franco-Seth Rogen feature would’ve fared better, if like The Dark Knight it had been playing in IMAX theaters as well. I could certainly see that appealing to the stoner crowd, an action comedy of epic proportions coming at them larger than life…whoa.

After taking in the film over the weekend I can certainly say there’s a market for it. While I didn’t enjoy the film as much as some of Apatow’s other efforts, namely Superbad, Knocked Up, and The 40 Year Old Virgin; but maybe those aren’t fair comparisons. This was a different kind of comedy. Sure there was a decent amount of pot smoke in some of those other flicks but there was something refreshingly unique about Pineapple Express. It was that rare occasion where excellent comedic chemistry is combined with a fierce action pace…maybe not quite at the level where Simon Pegg nailed it with Hot Fuzz…but the far-fetched action plot elements were well balanced by moments of wham/bam action and a measure of reality in the dialogue…whether a captor was alerting his two hostages that he could hear them planning their escape through the shoddy warehouse wall or whether Rogen is trying to escape the clutches of friendship with an overly friendly pot dealer. I can’t say we’ve all been through those situations before, but thanks to Pineapple Express you get the feeling that’s how it would go down if you were to. It’s a dose of reality in the midst of the fantastical. Reality aside the film certainly has it’s absurd moments…I think the body count borders on Rambo numbers, but already given the basis of being a comedy you’re prepared to suspend your disbelief with Franco’s Characters’ ability to depose of a police officer and handle a “high” speed chase. While the Pineapple Express is no Citizen Kane…and not even Airplane!…it’s certainly a pretty good way to spend a day at the movies.

This blog is published by The Film School & Acting School at the New York Film Academy. Visit our website to learn more about our exciting curriculum!

THE FUNNY SIDE OF SUMMER

It’s August and high octane Action-Adventure Superhero smash up portion of our summer seems to be coming to a close. That’s left the door wide open to make August funnier month of the season. While Swing Vote brought an unofficial start to the laughter (unofficial on account that barely anyone went to see it)…things kick off this week with yet another offering from Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen, the hardest working men in showbiz these days. Comparisons to James Brown aside, the two team up on Pineapple Express…for a comedic thrill ride about a stoner who witnesses a murder and goes on the run with his drug dealer. It sounds like quite the far-fetched plot, but if there’s any body who can make it work…it’s this team. There’s more appeal here than just catching another ensemble comedy from actors with a proven track record as of late, but the chance to see James Franco break from his usually brooding dramatic roles should prove priceless. If you’ve seen Franco’s Hills Parody on Funnyor Die.com, you’ll know what we’re talking about.

For those who are turned off by the idea of going to see what looks to be a quality comedy, you could always err on the side of a sentimental sequel. Granted, I’m not rushing out to see The Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants 2, on account that I don’t need to see a movie about something I lived through. I could tell you some stories about my friends and I sharing our pants but I’ll spare you the saucy, scandalous details. That’s not to say I’m averse to ever seeing this touching tale of feminine friendship. If I ever catch it on cable I’ll probably watch ten minutes because I have a crush on Alexis Bleidel, though I really wish she would star in some movies I don’t feel silly about seeing. I feel the same way about Claire Forlani and there is absolutely no shot of me seeing Beer For My Horses unless it’s one of those A Clockwork Orange eyes wide open forced situations. Hopefully, you won’t be strapped into a chair with restraints being forced to watch horrifying images and you’ll be able to make it out to the theatre to watch something enjoyable.

This blog is published by The Film School & Acting School at the New York Film Academy. Visit our website to learn more about our exciting curriculum!

Brendan Bests Batman

There haven’t really been any new stories at the box office the last few weeks with The Dark Knight cleaning up on its way to a $400 million plus summer. In an effort to stir up a little competition I guess I could point out that while the caped crusader narrowly beat out the new Mummy movie by earning $42.7 million to the latter’s $40.5 Million, when Brendan Fraser’s two films managed to accumulate around $47.2 million. Does that make Brendan Fraser this weekend’s Box office champion? Probably not, but he certainly made his mark with ultimately forgettable flicks.

After the top two takers this weekend there was quite the drop off. Step Brothers took third place with $16.5 million and Mamma Mia continued to scrape up some loose change at the number 4 spot with $12.6 Million.

Apparently August is too early for the viewing public to have politics on the brain as Swing Vote, starring Kevin Costner came in at a disappointing sixth place in its debut. In the Summer of Superhero Love all other comers are destined to dwindle into box office obscurity.

This blog is published by The Film School & Acting School at the New York Film Academy. Visit our website to learn more about our exciting curriculum!