It’s pretty crazy to like a movie Tropical thunder actually exists. The film is insanely funny but has also become a super controversial film due to its subject matter.
This edgy satirical action comedy was trying to poke fun at the kind of actors who would do almost anything to win an award and the result is one of the funniest comedies ever made.
Naturally, it raised some eyebrows for a variety of reasons due to the use of blackface and offensive language towards disabled people.
The film starred Ben Stillerwho also directed the film, and supported the parody film, and while he defended it, he also understands that a film like this would not have been made in today’s world.
During a recent interview with Collider, the actor shared his thoughts on whether the film would have been made today and also credited the director Steven Spielberg for helping make the film in the first place.
Stiller said: “I doubt it. Of course, in this environment, edgy comedy is simply harder to pull off. Certainly not at the scale we have reached, even in terms of the economics of the company.
“I think we were lucky to make it even then, and really the credit goes to Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks. He read it and said, “Okay, let’s do this thing.” It’s a very internal film if you think about it.
Stiller also weighed in on the choice of By Robert Downey Jr the character’s use of blackface and how the angle was obvious enough that it wasn’t intended in any negative way:
“The idea of Robert playing that character playing an African-American character, I mean, incredibly risky. Even then, of course, it was risky.
“The only reason we tried to do it was that I felt the joke was very clear in terms of who that joke was referring to: actors trying to do anything to win awards.
«But now, in this environment, I don’t even know if I would have dared to do it, to be honest. I’m honest.”
Yes, if anyone in Hollywood tried to make a movie like this right now, it would be shut down pretty quickly or at least the script would be rewritten to remove anything anyone might find offensive.
Robert Downey Jr. previously defended his role, saying, “I was looking back All in the Familyand they had a little disclaimer that they were putting out at the beginning of the show.
“People should look up exactly what it is, because it’s an antidote to this clickbait addiction and the rancor that [people seem] have with everything these days.
He added: “The language said, ‘Hey, this is why we’re doing these things that, in a vacuum, you could pick apart and say are wrong and bad.’
“There was an understanding with the audience, and I’m not saying that the audience doesn’t understand anymore, I’m saying that things have become very confusing.
“That’s the spirit [Ben] Stiller directed, cast and shot Tropical thunder it was, essentially, like a railing against all these clichés that aren’t right and [that] had been perpetuated for too long.
He then added: “[Ben Stiller] he knew exactly what the vision for this film was, he made it happen, it was impossible not to make it an offensive nightmare film. And 90% of my black friends were like, “Man, that was awesome.”
“I can’t disagree [the other 10%]but I know where my heart is. I think that’s never an excuse to do something that’s out of place and out of time, but for me it crossed the line [the issue].
“I think having a moral psychology is job one. Sometimes you just have to say, “Yeah, I fucked up.” In my defense, “Tropic Thunder” is about how wrong it is [Blackface] it is, so I take exception.
The film follows a group of selfish actors who embark on what they believe is the production of a big-budget film about the Vietnam War, only to find themselves in real danger in the middle of the jungle.
The actors, unaware that they have been marooned in a live combat zone, must rely on their questionable acting skills and inflated egos to survive. The film deftly skewers Hollywood’s vanity, method acting, and blockbuster culture, while simultaneously delivering outrageous humor and over-the-top action.
by Joey Paur
Source: Geek Tyrant
Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
