This movie was so freakin halarious. If Robert Downey Jr. was the only actor in the film it would still be great. I love the idea of an actor getting stuck in character or in a certain state of mind.... Robert Downey said something like, "After I played Lance Armstrong they found me in an alley trying to re-renter the Earth's atmosphere in a cardboard box." And Ben Stiller, "I have a home now, and a child." I didn't see the Director's Cut, but I highly recommend the actual release.

The Bottom Line:

Not all of the humor in Tropic Thunder works (obviously this applies to basically every comedy, but the "Simple Jack" stuff falls embarrasingly flat) but the characters are interesting and likable, there are a bunch of belly laughs to be had, and the film is enjoyable enough to be worth recommending even if it's not the end-all be-all of comedy.

I did not think I would be surprised by the twists. I was thankful for these as they covered up my disappointments in where the script really dragged on painfully slow. It was good enough to make me laugh, and say more then once, "No way! They did not just do that!"

This movie is so funny, it is a must if you love Ben Stiller and Jack Black- and the characters that Tom Cruise and Robert Downy Jr. play are totally unrecognizable from the actors. Amazing. The movie is raunchy in parts, but really great.

This is a brilliant, hilarious satire/commentary on the Vietnam-era war movie genre and on the movie business in general. See it. Great cast!

Tropic Thunder was a crazy comedy, but it worked. Robert Downey, Jr. might have been the funniest of all, with his over the top attempt to play a black man. " I know what dude I am. I'm the dude playin' the dude, disguised as another dude!" is probably my favorite line from the movie. As much as I dislike Tom Cruise, I'll give him credit for his part in this one. It was well over halfway through before Mrs. Twan and I realized that Grossman was played by Cruise.

Another one of those movies I just love. Come on Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Ben stiller you can't go wrong.

I wasn't necessarily as enthusiastic as Magellan or Irishgit were about this film, or the gay janitor at work who nearly begged me to see it, as it was "the funniest thing I've ever seen." Perhaps my expectations were too high as a result of the intense recommendations. Don't misunderstand me, though-- I laughed throughout. If a drama is judged on how it stirs up emotion, if a horror movie is judged on how scared we become or how "thrilled" we are after viewing it, if an erotic movie is judged on how "aroused" we become, and a comedy is judged on whether or not we laughed...ok, "Tropic Thunder" worked, because I laughed...pretty constantly, in fact. It's hard to put my finger on why I'm not according the film 5 stars instead of 4. I've always had mixed feelings regarding Ben Stiller. At times, I think his talent borders on genius; at other times, his "comedic" sensibility leaves me cold. I have to say that I find humor that pokes fun at "retards" disturbing-- I understand that Stiller is poking fun at a Hollywood system that uses mental disability as a vehicle for tawdry melodrama, but it's a thin line-- a little bit too close to the asinine, nasty humor of a Howard Stern, or malicious kids in the schoolyard who poke fun at the "retarded kid." Still...the bottom line is...I laughed, and laughed often. Robert Downey is extraordinary here--- and it's refreshing to see a personal story of Hollywood excess and probable ruin turn itself inside out and become one of triumph. He's that good. Instead of ending up in an obituary column...as seemed probable a few years back and as if par for the course these days with far too many "celebrities"...Downey took hold of his life and got it in order, and revitalized his once promising career. Jack Black, who in recent years has started to become as annoying and predictable as Jim Carrey, is hysterical here, as is Nick Nolte, as is Tom Cruise (!?!). Considering the state of cinematic comedy in recent decades, "Tropic Thunder"...in spite of some personal reservations I might have...is a triumph. Next time someone refers to Adam Sandler movies with a straight face as "funny", I'm referring them to "Tropic Thunder".

Update: I should say, in the interests of full disclosure, that I showed this movie the other day to my father, a World War II veteran. Basically, my father is an easygoing guy who can appreciate raunchy humor (he loved "Slap Shot" and the farting scene from "Dumb and Dumber" had him in tears) but watching this movie with him was like sitting alongside one of the figures from Mount Rushmore. Finally, about 20 minutes in, I asked him if he'd rather I put another movie on, and he nodded stiffly. Later, he said, "I don't see how any Vietnam War veteran...or any veteran...could sit through that movie without becoming enraged." Without disparaging my father (he's an intelligent man), I don't think he quite "got" the humor of the film, and I stand by my original assessment of it...it's one of the funnier things I've seen in recent years...but, obviously, it's not a film for everyone.

Fall down funny.  Unbelievable performances from Robert Downey Jr as a Russell Crowe character playing a black sargent ("i'm the dude playing the dude playing another dude"). and Tom Cruise as the ruthless Hollywood producer - his "you don't know me like that" dance at the end almost killed me.  Ben Stiller playing Simple Jack for an audience of heroin smgglers, over and over was pretty damn funny as well.  One of the funniest movies I have ever seen.

Utterly politically incorrect and utterly piss your pants hilarious.  Didn't see it in the theatre, but just rented it and laughed uproariously throughout.  Fine acting all around, great parodies, fine script, and some utterly offensive annd absolutely gutsplitting comedy.

I didn't think Hollywood had the guts to make politically incorrect films like this anymore.  Love Cruise's offensive cameo of Harvey Weinstein/vicious Hollywood producer that you will never forget.

This movie did two things, it made me laugh out loud and it made me reconsider my assessment of Tom Cruise as an actor.  It's been a while since I saw a movie that did either off those things.

It had a few funny moments,  but it was a lil too off the wall for me.  Especially Jack Black's role.

So, I should preface this review by saying, this film is NOT for the easily offended. The humor is fantastically low-brow, but that will likely polarize the audience (and I think it already has).

However, it is a must-see for anyone who has seen a lot of war films or who can appreciate a satirical view of Hollywood. Going into the film, I was expecting it to be sort of slap-stick comedy, but it really only goes there a few times (with serious gross factors too, I might add :D yay!). The references to other films like Saving Private Ryan and Apocalypse Now are quite on point, and the criticism of the industry in general adds depth to the film. You have to give some credit to a film with the self-deprecative power to both mock product placement while using it throughout the film.

Additionally, this is probably the greatest role Tom Cruise has ever played because he finally escapes the realm of taking himself so seriously that it comes across as annoying. Robert Downey Jr. steals the show a bit, but even the members of the cast with a quite a bit less celebrity do a fantastic job maintaining the film's humor and grounding some of the other actors.