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.