Guess it was too much to ask for another entertaining blockbuster this year (Dark Knight is going to continue trouncing everyone at the box office till Christmas): Tropic Thunder, Ben Stiller's first directorial effort since Zoolander in 2001, is already garnering "meh" reactions from critics. Which seems kind of implausible for a film that's been mired in controversy since Robert Downey Jr. first spread on the greasepaint.
There's already the angered some advocacy groups that thought Simple Jack was offensive to the mentally handi-capped (it is). The tag-line for the film-preview-within-a-film? ""Once upon a time, there was a retard." When you set out to blitzkrieg taste, it's best to pick on one minority group at a time. But what about those not easily offended? Tropic Thunder still doesn't wow, even with Tom Cruise cursing in a fat suit.
Both Radar and Variety had luke-warm buzz. From Variety's Todd McCarthy:
Not unlike the pampered, out-of-touch celebrities at the center of the action, the film itself suffers from a lack of grounding. Wacked-out comedy with nutjob characters can certainly operate with artificial logic of its own, but "Tropic Thunder," which is rooted to recognizable, real-world points of reference, is undermined by innumerable small details that don't feel right.
And Radar found the comedy "heavy-handy." Worse than stirring up controversy for a film is a critic's apathy towards it.
Honestly, Justin Theroux should stop writing and go back to David Lynch films, but too late: He just got the green-light to pen Iron Man 2. Now all hope for late summer comedy rests on Steve Coogan's other vehicle, Hamlet 2 which fortunately looks hysterical.
Editorial Director
Uhh what are you talking about? It's getting positive reviews from a lot of places. Just check RT.
I'm going to see it! WHo gives a shit about Critics? Not everyone cares about having the perfect storyline and having perfectly written characters. Maybe we just want a friggin laugh in this stressed out urban/suburban decay..
What? All the reviews I read so far have been very positive. Just check Rotten tomatoes.
As of 8/12, a 70% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 70 on MetaCritic. "Meh"? Hardly.
A bit of a correction here: The film is actually getting a slew of positive reviews from the non-hacks (that's the meter to gauge, not the hack meter), including a positive review from Roger Ebert, a wire reporter, and one of the larger magazines, and one of the larger newspapers (check the round-up of reviews out today). The film is getting positive reviews from the non-hacks. You have to remember that Rotten Tomatoes is not the only gauge of reviews in the world, and that gauge often includes a slew of hacks who don't know anything about film, film theory, film production, film history, or film in general. You can't gauge hacks when they don't know anything about film. But when non-hacks give the film a positive review, then it's getting positive reviews.
This article is crap. 80% approval on Rotten Tomatoes with 3.5/4 Stars from Roger Ebert. Just the facts next time, ok?
umm
RDJ IS PLAYING A BLACK GUY
WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR!?
Rotten Tomatoes is pretty much the voice of the people.
It's a funny movie. Downey steals the show, as you might expect.
What a load of bull. One of the funniest movies of the year, *great* reviews for a comedy, and rather multi-layered and deep for one, too.
Just because you didn't like the movie doesn't mean there's a critic backlash against it, ya idiot.
RDJ has two great films he steals the show in so far in 2008 now for #3 " The Soloist" really has me ready to see Mr. Downey Jr. do his thing. I fee for those that can't just enjoy his talent.
Sorry for the
T.O. I feel for those who can't just enjoy his talent….
Very few laughs. Wasted satire opportunity. Stiller's worst.