DonnaK:  For the first time on MOA, Jim and I have pretty different views about a movie. I feel strongly one way about Tropic Thunder, and Jim has a different take. Therefore, instead of doing our usual banter, we’re each going to present our reviews in a back-to-back format. I’m going to go first and Jim will follow with his. We’ll join up at the end to give our final analysis and our rating.

THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS!!!! This is a spoiler-free review, so read away. Everything you need to know is in the trailer, which if you’ve been living in a cave and haven’t seen it yet, is right here:

I have to start off my review by saying that I personally really, REALLY liked Tropic Thunder. I laughed loudly and consistently throughout the entire film, so much so that at one point Jim actually shot me a look because I just could not stop laughing one particular sequence. When the jokes were hot they were smoking hot, and the actors delivered on every possible level. The real clincher for me was that all last night and today I’ve been periodically giggling to myself as I remember parts of the movie. When that happens, you KNOW the movie worked for you and that it’s a funny motherfucker.

HOWEVER… this is NOT to say that this movie is without flaws. In point of fact it is positively riddled with flaws, mainly in the script and editing, that present some major problems. These problems are in fact so large that many people will walk away from Tropic Thunder and either deem it only average or actively dislike it. I didn’t have that problem, and I have a theory about that… but I’m saving that for the end. You’ll just have to wait.

Let’s talk about the bad stuff first and get it out of the way. The biggest problem? This script was clumsy and choppy as ALL hell. In between the hysterical bits were LONG jags of ham-fisted, awkward writing that were either not funny at all or simply served to move you from point A to point B in the story. The fault here lies squarely with Stiller, who’s wonderful at writing bits but very amateurish at writing narrative. His comedy moments were gold, but his sense of story was very weak. This lack of consistency led to a roller-coaster effect of sorts where you would find yourself laughing uproariously one minute and feeling lost and almost bored the next, only to be catapulted again into hilarity. Choppy is really the best word I can think of to describe the script, and the lack of true narrative drops the overall quality of the movie down a few pegs.

Adding to this problem was the simply terrible editing. You know a lot of the great funny moments in the trailers? Yeah… missing in the movie. The torture sequence with Tugg in the cabin? Gone. The punchline of the Jefferson’s theme-song bit? Gone. I have NO idea why these cuts were made as they only weaken an already weak script. If that isn’t bad enough, the parts that SHOULD have been trimmed weren’t. There was an extended “set-up” sequence at the start of the movie to “introduce” you to all the players that simply was not needed. I could have easily trimmed minutes here and there throughout the exposition sequences in order to devote more time to the funny and to the big ending. Whoever had final cut on Tropic Thunder really did the film a HUGE disservice by making the decisions they did. In my mind they took a wobbly table and chopped chunks out of its already shaky legs. I would love to see a longer director’s cut of this film that added back all the funny that got taken away – I know it’s out there somewhere.

Now, you’d think with everything I just said that I would hate this movie, right? Nope. In spite of all the problems, I truly did enjoy this film. Why? Well, let’s start with the cast.

Robert Downey Jr. is everything you think and hope he would be and more. RDJ playing Kirk Lazarus who is playing black platoon Sgt. Lincoln Osiris is sheer genius. I’m right in there with the critics who are calling for RDJ to get an Oscar nomination for this performance – it’s that damn good. To call it nuanced isn’t giving it enough credit – it’s a complete and total immersion in the role that is just astonishing. It’s an amazing performance, possibly one of his best. Surprisingly Jack Black gave one HELL of a performance as well as Jeff Portnoy. I don’t usually expect too much from Black but he really delivered in this role. Brandon T. Jackson was also excellent and his contribution to the ensemble should not be overlooked. But… the TRUE star of this movie was Tom Cruise. In the cameo to end all cameos Cruise is absolutely astonishing in his role. I won’t spoil a thing for you – all I’ll say is that he truly made this movie great.

Yes, the script had low points… but it had incredible highs as well. There were lines, bits, and long sequences that had me laughing so hard I almost fell out of my chair. I will never forget the “full retard” speech or many of the other moments you see bits of in the trailer. The whole end of the movie for me was packed with hilarity and I loved every bit of it. For me the high points were so high and so funny that I quickly forgot the pits and drops of the film. It was like that Gilbert Godfried scene in Beverly Hills Cop where he’s trying to get Eddie Murphy to forget about the pile of traffic tickets he’s holding in one hand by putting a stack of cash in the other. I was so entranced by the one hand – the one holding all the jokes and the stellar performances and the high points – that I forgot about the other hand, the one that held all the bad stuff.  In the end, the highs were so high and the funnies were so funny that I don’t care that it was sloppy or choppy or disorganized. I LAUGHED. And I keep laughing. And I think I’m going to be laughing about Tropic Thunder for quite some time.

I was actually surprised that Jim didn’t feel as I did about Tropic Thunder. Obviously I’m going to let him tell you himself what he felt, but after talking about the movie and Stiller and his work for hours after coming home I think I’ve found the litmus test as to whether or not Tropic Thunder is going to be up your alley or not.

It’s all about Zoolander, the only other movie Stiller wrote, directed and starred in. I know it was seven years ago, but think back. Do you remember Zoolander? If you do, and if you remember it fondly and can recall jokes and scenes that made you laugh and still make you smile… you will like Tropic Thunder. If Zoolander didn’t stick with you and you can’t recall it or thinking of it doesn’t make you smile… Tropic Thunder isn’t going to be your cup of tea. In the end, it boils down to Stiller’s writing. If you like how he writes and his jokes resonate and stick with you, Tropic Thunder will have the “Zoolander Effect” and be a cult-like favorite for you. If not, you’ll most likely wind up disappointed.

DonnaK:  Ah, yes… the Pineapple Express comparison. Jim and I went around and around this one as well last night, and here’s where I stand on that note. I agree completely that as a whole Pineapple Express was a better movie. It was MUCH more cohesive, coherent and consistent. The writing was FAR superior and the performances were all completely solid. I love and revere the sheer talent of the Apatow/Rogen team and I continue to be intellectually in awe of them. On a pure merit system, Pineapple Express wins hands down.

BUT… here’s the rub. I laughed like hell when I was watching Pineapple Express. I had a great time and I’m really glad I saw it. But right now, as I’m sitting here recalling the funniest parts of the movie, I’m maybe smiling a little, but only on the inside. There’s very little about it that I’m going to take with me forever as a “hey, remember this?” moment, if that makes any sense. On the other hand, Tropic Thunder ALREADY has me laughing and giggling and smiling whenever I think about the bits in it. It WILL stick around with me and I WILL be quoting it and laughing about it for quite some time. And I suspect, just like with Zoolander, it’s going to become this kind-of cult movie in my head where intellectually I know it’s flawed but I don’t fucking care because it just really makes me laugh. So at the end of the day, even though I will whole-heartedly agree that Pineapple Express was a superior film, I *liked* Tropic Thunder better. It simply just comes down to is what happens to tickle your funny bone the most. Stiller’s writing tickles mine. Neither answer is right or wrong - it’s all just personal preference.

DonnaK:  In the end, for me Tropic Thunder was hard to rate. The performances were easily a five out of five, but the script was barely a three. The editing makes it worse, but the humor takes it over the top. Overall, I have to give it a pretty solid four star rating. I recommend seeing it, but take the Zoolander test first. Only rush out to see it if you, like me, loved Zoolander. If not, see it anyway… just don’t run to the theater.