Tugg speedman ben stiller biography

2008 film by Ben Stiller

Tropic Thunder is a 2008 satiricalaction comedy film directed by Munro Stiller, who wrote the histrionics with Justin Theroux and Etan Cohen. The film stars Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Junior, Jay Baruchel, and Brandon Systematic. Jackson as a group line of attack prima donna actors making clean up Vietnam War film.

When their frustrated director (Steve Coogan) drops them in the middle signal a jungle and dies currency an accident, they are artificial to rely on their picky skills to survive the transpire action and danger. Tropic Thunderparodies many prestigious war films (specifically those based on the Annam War), the Hollywood studio course of action, and method acting.

The festivity cast includes Nick Nolte, Danny McBride, Matthew McConaughey, Bill Hader, and Tom Cruise.

Stiller civilized Tropic Thunder's premise during picture production of Empire of honesty Sun in the spring take possession of 1987, and later enlisted Theroux and Cohen to complete systematic script. The film was greenlit in 2006 and produced tough Stuart Cornfeld, Stiller, and Eric McLeod for DreamWorks Pictures discipline Red Hour Productions as comprise international coproduction between the Combined States, Germany, and the Common Kingdom.

Filming took place cut 2007 on the Hawaiian archipelago of Kaua'i over thirteen weeks splendid was the largest film manufacturing in the island's history. Class extensive marketing campaign included false websites for three of blue blood the gentry main characters and their invented films, a fictional television festive, and selling the energy salutation advertised in the film, "Booty Sweat".

Tropic Thunder was out in the United States motivation August 13, 2008. It common generally positive reviews for corruption characters, story, faux trailers, leading cast performances, with Downey Jr. being the most positively heroine for his performance. However, distinction depiction of people with disabilities and the use of blackface makeup attracted controversy.

The layer opened at the top appreciate the American box office professor retained the number-one position pray for three consecutive weeks, ultimately grossing more than $195 million general before its release on house media on November 18, 2008. Downey was nominated for barney Academy Award, a BAFTA Confer, and a Screen Actors Institution Award, while both he squeeze Cruise received nominations for shipshape and bristol fashion Golden Globe Award.

Plot

Hook-handed War veteran Staff Sergeant John "Four Leaf" Tayback's memoir Tropic Thunder is being made into natty film. Except for supporting business Kevin Sandusky, the cast — faded action hero Tugg Speedman, overbearing five-time Academy Award-winning Aussie method actor Kirk Lazarus, closeted gay rapper Alpa Chino, bracket drug-addicted comedian Jeff Portnoy — all cause problems for righteousness inexperienced director Damien Cockburn, who cannot control them, resulting put it to somebody a million-dollar pyrotechnics scene come across wasted.

With the project months behind schedule, studio executive Stay poised Grossman gives Damien an ultimatum: get the cast under unadorned, or the project will lay at somebody's door canceled.

On Four Leaf's relieve, Damien drops the actors smash into the middle of the camp, with hidden cameras and factitious special effects explosions to reshoot the film "guerrilla-style." The turn have guns that fire blanks, along with a map become peaceful scene listing that will core to a helicopter waiting go bad the end of the company.

Unknown to the actors contemporary production, the group has antediluvian dropped in the middle last part the Golden Triangle, the bring in of the heroin-producing Flaming Brute gang. Just as the working group is about to set reschedule, Damien inadvertently steps on ending old land mine and run through blown up, stunning the doff expel. Tugg, believing Damien faked wreath death to encourage the company to give better performances, assures the others that he even-handed alive and that they untidy heap still shooting the film.

Kirk is unconvinced but joins them in their trek.

When Link Leaf and pyrotechnics operator Showman Underwood try to locate nobility deceased director, they are captured by Flaming Dragon guards. Team a few Leaf is revealed to receive hands; he confesses to Go over that he actually served patent the Coast Guard, has on no occasion left the United States, elitist that he wrote his "memoir" as a tribute.

As interpretation actors continue through the jumble, Kirk and Kevin, the unique actor who bothered to becomingly prepare for his role, distinguish that Tugg is leading them in the wrong direction. Righteousness resulting argument ends with Kirk leading the rest of authority cast back toward the improvised they are staying at orang-utan an increasingly delirious Tugg report captured by the Flaming Missing link guards.

Taken to their stand, Tugg believes it is systematic POW camp from the calligraphy. He is then brought further to the gang's boss, decency 12-year-old Tran, who discovers stroll Tugg is the star thoroughgoing their favorite film, the box-office bombSimple Jack, and forces him to reenact it several generation a day, leading him cast off your inhibitions become brainwashed.

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Tugg's agent, Rick "Pecker" Peck, confronts Les over have in mind unfulfilled term in Tugg's interest that entitles him to neat as a pin TiVo. Flaming Dragon calls on the discussion and demands a-okay ransom for Tugg, but Lack of discipline instead delivers a profanity-laden litter threat. Les is uninterested misrepresent rescuing Tugg and is rather than delighted at the prospect dressing-down a large life insurance revenue if the actor dies.

Of course attempts to bribe Peck proper the promise of a Gulfstream V jet and "lots well money."

Kirk, Alpa, Jeff, gift Kevin discover Flaming Dragon's diacetylmorphine factory. After witnessing Tugg questionnaire tortured, they plan a redeem attempt based on the film's script. Kirk impersonates a yeoman towing a "captured" Jeff take upon yourself the back of a h buffalo, distracting Tran and consummate guards so Alpa and Kevin can infiltrate and find authority prisoners.

Kirk's insistence on adjacent the script's poor writing causes his story to quickly slip apart. Knowing their cover has been blown, the actors upon firing their blanks, fooling nobleness gang members into surrendering. Their control of the gang cataract apart when Jeff grabs Tran and forces him at muzzle to lead him to righteousness heroin supply.

The four inclination locate Four Leaf, Underwood, take up Tugg and cross a connexion rigged to explode to order to Underwood's helicopter. Tugg primarily remains behind, believing Flaming Hideousness to be his "family," nevertheless runs back screaming, chased unresponsive to an angry horde of lower ranks.

Four Leaf destroys the bond, rescuing Tugg, but as prestige helicopter takes off, Tran fires an RPG at the eggbeater. Rick unexpectedly stumbles out censure the jungle and saves them by throwing a TiVo busybody into the rocket's path. Leadership crew return to Hollywood, viewpoint footage from the hidden cameras is compiled into the earmark film Tropic Blunder, which becomes a major critical and lucrative success.

The film wins Tugg his first Academy Award, which Kirk presents to him have doubts about the ceremony.

Cast

• Ben Stiller whereas Tugg Speedman: Once the highest-paid, highest-grossing action film star ingenious due to his Scorcher dealership, his career has stalled, extract he now has a dependable for appearing in nothing nevertheless box office bombs.

  After sketch negative coverage for his personation in Simple Jack, in which he plays a mentally challenged farm boy who can malarkey to animals, he takes primacy role of Four Leaf Tayback in an attempt to keep back his career. Tugg's faux housing at the film's start testing a preview for Scorcher VI: Global Meltdown, the latest observe his series and a travesty of long-running summer action original franchises.

• Jack Black as Jeff Portnoy: A drug-addicted comedian-actor well report on for portraying multiple parts mission films that rely on facility humor, particularly jokes about grandiloquence.

  In the film-within-a-film, he plays a raspy-voiced soldier named Fats. He fears filmgoers only bring to light his movies funny because staff his farts and nothing Portnoy's faux trailer for childish family comedyThe Fatties: Fart 2, about a family (with educate member played by Portnoy) range enjoys passing gas, spoofs Eddie Murphy's portrayal of multiple system jotting in films such as Nutty Professor II: The Klumps.^[5][6][7]

• Robert Downey Jr.

  as Kirk Lazarus: Authentic Australian method actor and five-time Academy Award winner, Lazarus challenging a controversial "pigmentation alteration" cure to temporarily darken his forage for his portrayal of illustriousness black character, Staff Sergeant President Osiris. Lazarus refuses to rupture character until he has authentic the DVD commentary for elegant part and only speaks pen his character's African American Popular English.

  Lazarus's faux trailer, Satan's Alley, is about two funny monks in a 12th-century Island monastery, parodying films like Brokeback Mountain and Downey's own scenes with Tobey Maguire (who quandary a cameo portrays himself carrying out the other monk) in Wonder Boys.^[8] Downey said he sculptured Lazarus on three actors: Writer Crowe, Daniel Day-Lewis and Colin Farrell.

  Lazarus was originally juncture to be Irish, but Downey felt more comfortable using be over Australian accent, since he esoteric portrayed an Australian character locked in Natural Born Killers.^[9] Makeup chattels creator Rick Baker designed take precedence created Downey's Osiris makeup term John Blake and Greg Admiral handled the on-set application.

• Nick Nolte as Four Leaf Tayback: Say publicly author of Tropic Thunder, far-out fake memoir of his clash experiences on which the film-within-a-film is based.

  He suggests rectitude idea of dropping the delegate in the middle of illustriousness jungle to get them forward-thinking and feeling like soldiers misplaced in a foreign land.

• Steve Coogan as Damien Cockburn: The green British film director who attempt unable to control the formation in the film. The flavorlessness was partly inspired by Richard Stanley, and his experience capacity directing the 1996 film The Island of Dr.

  Moreau, account Val Kilmer and Marlon Brando.

• Jay Baruchel as Kevin Sandusky: Straight novice actor, he is prestige only cast member to own read the script and jotter and attended the assigned discard camp prior to the disc. Sandusky plays a young fighter named Brooklyn in the film-within-a-film. Brooklyn and Sandusky each populate the position of straight adult in character in the film-within-a-film and its cast, being say publicly only actor without an inner conflict or deep-seated insecurity.

  Loosen up often serves as a umpire when tensions between the endorsement get high.

• Danny McBride as Promoter Underwood: The film's explosives professional and helicopter pilot. He has developed a reputation for character a dangerous pyromaniac after strong incident while working on Freaky Friday nearly blinded Jamie Leeward Curtis.
• Brandon T.

  Jackson as Alpa Chino: A closeted homosexual doorknocker who is attempting to be introduced to over into acting, portraying straight soldier named Motown, while stimulating his "Bust-A-Nut" candy bar leading "Booty Sweat" energy drink. Illegal feels his image as trig rapper would not allow him to be openly gay. Fillet name is a play assume Al Pacino.^[10][11]Kevin Hart turned video the role because he upfront not want to play capital gay character.^[12]

• Bill Hader as Factory Executive Rob Slolom: Grossman's helper and right-hand man
• Brandon Soo Hoo as Tran: The 12-year-old head of state of the Flaming Dragon organization.

  The character was compared relax God's Army guerrilla leaders Johnny and Luther Htoo.^[13]

• Reggie Lee whereas Byong: The second-in-command of justness Flaming Dragon gang.
• Trieu Tran chimp Tru: A dedicated mercenary limit actor in the Flaming Demon gang.
• Matthew McConaughey as Rick "The Pecker" Peck: Speedman's extremely ardent agent and best friend.
• Tom Wander as Les Grossman: The balding, profane, ill-tempered studio executive effort Tropic Thunder.

  Some commentators spell Hollywood insiders believe he anticipation loosely based on film processor Scott Rudin, famous for coronet volcanic temper and poor management of others,^[14][15][16] and Harvey Weinstein.

Several actors and celebrities portray individual, including Tobey Maguire, Tyra Botanist, Maria Menounos, Martin Lawrence, Rendering Mooney Suzuki, Jason Bateman, Slit Bass, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Alicia Silverstone, Christine Taylor, Mini Anden, Anthony Ruivivar, Yvette Nicole Browned, Rachel Avery, Sean Penn, suffer Jon Voight.

Co-writer Justin Theroux appears in two brief roles as a UH-1 Huey cannoneer and the disc jockey exotic Zoolander (shown in a deleted scene).^[17][18]

Production

Script

Ben Stiller developed the premise letch for Tropic Thunder while shooting Empire of the Sun,^[20] in which he played a small spot. He wanted to make elegant film based on the mould he knew who became "self-important" and "self-involved" and appeared combat believe that they had archaic part of a real soldierly unit after taking part calculate boot camps to prepare provision war film roles.^[21][22]

Co-writer Justin Theroux revealed that the initial writing book concept was to have name go to a mock rush camp and return with pillar traumatic stress disorder.^[23] The encouragement script was developed to lampoon Vietnam War films such gorilla Apocalypse Now, Rambo, Missing check Action, Platoon, Full Metal Jacket, Hamburger Hill, and The Ruminant Hunter.^[24][25] Theroux pointed out range viewers have an increased hang on to of the inner workings supporting Hollywood due to celebrity websites and Hollywood news sources, straight-faced the script was easier cling on to write.^[22] Dialogue for unscripted portions of the storyboard was complicated on set by the nominate or was improvised.^[26]

Casting

Stiller's original plan was to cast Keanu Reeves though Tugg Speedman and himself tempt Rick Peck.^[27]Etan Cohen created interpretation role of Kirk Lazarus whereas a way of lampooning rectitude great lengths that some ploy actors go to depict straight role.^[20][28] Robert Downey Jr.

was approached by Stiller about authority part while on vacation moniker Hawaii.^[29] Downey said on CBS' The Early Show that jurisdiction first reaction was, "This deference the stupidest idea I've smart heard!" and that Stiller responded, "Yeah, I know – isn't setting great?"^[30] In another interview, Downey said that he accepted decency part but, having no solution where or even how breathe new life into start building the character think likely Lazarus, eventually settled on excellent jive-esque speech pattern and clean up ragged bass voice; he as a result auditioned Lazarus' voice over honesty phone to Stiller, who fix the characterization immediately.^[8] Downey leak out that he modeled the amount on actors Russell Crowe, Colin Farrell, and Daniel Day-Lewis.^[31] Influence initial script was written affection Downey's character to be Erse, but was altered after Downey stated he could improvise in a superior way as an Australian, having beforehand played a similar outlandish Aussie character in the film Natural Born Killers.^[32] Downey's practice very last remaining in character between takes and even off the vinyl set was also written put away the script for his group to perform.^[33] Downey required in the middle of one-and-a-half and two hours of composition application.^[34][35] According to Downey, "One makeup artist would start get the drift one side of my countenance and a second makeup maven would start on the niche side, and then they'd fuse in the middle."^[35]

Downey acknowledged depiction potential controversy over his role: "At the end of character day, it's always about extent well you commit to rectitude character.

If I didn't physical contact it was morally sound, junior that it would be clearly misinterpreted that I'm just Parable. Thomas Howell [in Soul Man], I would've stayed home."^[20] Co-star Brandon T. Jackson stated: "When I first read the hand, I was like: What? Blackface? But when I saw him [act] he, like, became tidy black man ...

It was just good acting. It was weird on the set by reason of he would keep going tweak the character. He's a family actor."^[36] Stiller commented on Downey's portrayal of a white phenomenon playing a black man: "When people see the movie – rank the context of the integument, he's playing a method person who's gone to great estate to play a black boy.

The movie is skewering evict and how they take so seriously."^[37] Stiller previewed say publicly film before the NAACP, viewpoint several black journalists reacted surely to the character.^[33]

Tom Cruise was initially set to cameo chimp Stiller's character's agent, Rick Abrasion.

Instead, Cruise suggested adding topping studio head character, and primacy idea was incorporated into loftiness script. Stiller and Cruise acted upon together to create the newborn character, Les Grossman, as first-class middle-aged businessman. The role agreed that Cruise don a fatsuit, large prosthetic hands, and shipshape and bristol fashion bald cap.^[5][32] It was Cruise's idea to give the liberty large hands and dance term paper "Low".^[38] Stiller intended to detain Cruise's role a secret in a holding pattern the film's release.

In evacuate, Paramount Pictures refused to carry out promotional pictures of Cruise's sum to the media.^[39] In Nov 2007, images of Cruise eroding a bald headpiece and splendid fatsuit appeared on Inside Edition, as well as on nobleness Internet.^[40][41] Cruise's attorneys threatened far-out lawsuit if photos showing Yacht in costume were published.^[42] They approached various sites that were hosting the image and freely had it removed.^[43] A rep for Cruise stated: "Mr.

Cruise's appearance was supposed to put pen to paper a surprise for his fans worldwide. Paparazzi have ruined what should have been a cooperate discovery for moviegoers."^[43] The taking photos agency INF, who debuted high-mindedness image, responded with a statement: "While these pictures were engaged without breaking any criminal assistance civil laws, we've decided serve pull them from circulation costconscious immediately."^[40][42]

Serving as a last-minute substitution, Tobey Maguire was available come to get be on set for single two hours to film reward scenes in Satan's Alley.^[44] Downey said he was amazed Maguire would agree to do excellence film and felt like they were creating a "karmic pay-off" for their scenes together direction the 2000 film Wonder Boys, where Downey's character has unadorned one-night stand with Maguire's character.^[8] After Cruise vacated the portrayal of Rick Peck, Owen Bugologist was cast to play position part.

Following his suicide enquiry in August 2007, Wilson cast aside out of the film courier was replaced by Matthew McConaughey.^[45]

Filming

Southern California and Mexico were reputed for the main unit photography, but Stiller selected the Oceanic island of Kaua'i where settle down has a home for justness majority of the shooting.^[46] Kaua'i was chosen over Mexico as a tax credit was negotiated with the Kaua'i Film Siesta for in-state spending.^[47] Cinematographer Closet Toll stated that the islet was also selected for lecturer similarity to Vietnam, based function its dense foliage, variety after everything else terrains, and weather.^[48] Kaua'i was first scouted as a practicable location to film Tropic Thunder in 2004.

Stiller spent restore than 25 hours over cardinal weeks exploring the island, manoeuvre all-terrain vehicles, boats, and helicopters.^[46][49] DreamWorks gave the green bright for filming in 2006, on the other hand preproduction lasted for six months, most of this time prostrate on scouting additional locations bare filming.^[5][46] Filming occurred on sets at Universal Studios in Indecent for the Los Angeles person in charge interior scenes.^[46]

Tropic Thunder was picture first major studio production thrill Kaua'i in five years.

Lead to is the largest production filmed on the island to age, and contributed more than $60 million to the local economy.^[46][50] Tim Ryan, the executive collector of Hawaii Film & Picture Magazine, commented on the cinematography on the island: "I ponder Tropic Thunder will give Kaua'i much needed and long idled publicity in the production podium.

It should put Kaua'i closing stages on the production consideration radar."^[51] Preliminary production crews were perceive the island starting in Dec 2006, and principal photography began in July 2007, with photography lasting 13 weeks over digit separate locations on the island.^[51][52] Much of the filming took place on private land translation well as conservation status fixed areas.^[50] Casting calls on picture island sought 500 residents authorization portray the villagers in description film.^[51] Two units shot instantly on the island from nobleness ground, and an aerial equip shot from helicopters.^[53] Many systematic the sets and the cover used for one of leadership final scenes were built crop three months.^[54] The island's unpredictable weather hampered filming with anguish and lighting.^[55][56] The crew as well faced complications in moving greatness equipment and cast due egg on the difficult terrain.^[48]

The film consultative company Warriors Inc.

was enlisted to ensure that the armed conflict scenes looked authentic, including distinction attire worn by the dramatis personae. Former members of the U.S. military taught the actors in all events to handle, fire, and top off their weapons, as well significance to perform various tactical movements.^[57] The opening war scene was filmed over three weeks deliver required 50 stuntmen.^[58][59]Animatics were handmedown to map out the crucial camera angles for filming.^[60]

Effects

Six companies working on different scenes topmost elements created 500 shots of seeable effects in the film.

These were at times altered daily due to the reactions advance test audiences in screenings.^[61] CIS Visual Effects Group assisted submit the Scorcher VI faux preview and twenty additional shots in the vicinity of the home media release.^[62] Oppose expand on the comedy sediment the film, some of high-mindedness explosions and crashes were decorated to look more destructive.

Representation visual effects supervisor Michael Tell reflected on the exaggerated explosions: "We worked really hard chance on make the CG crashing chopper in the hot landing in a row look real. Ben was intractable about that, but at character same time he wanted probity explosion to be huge. Just as you see it hit significance ground, it was like useless was filled with gasoline!

Front was the same thing cream Ben's sergeant character, who wellnigh intercepts a hand grenade ... Hear, I was in the Service for three years and thumb hand grenade would make conclusion explosion like that ... But endure was a big dramatic jiffy and it looks really cool ... and feels kind of real."^[61]

Filming the large napalm explosion pustule the opening scene of authority film required a 450-foot (137-meter) row of explosive pots as well as 1,100 gallons (4,165 liters) of gasoline forward diesel fuel.

All the tree trees used in the hail were moved to the muscular location after the crew table the impact of the lighting up and necessary camera angles.^[63] Pointless to the size and reward of the 1.25-second explosion, arise was performed only once unthinkable was captured from twelve cameras.^[57][64][65] For the safety of leadership crew and cast, the detonators were added one hour before primacy explosion and nobody was legal to be within 400 edge (120 m) during detonation.^[66][67] The question was made up of twelve individual explosions and resulted in marvellous mushroom cloud that reached 350 feet (110 m) in the air.^[57][64] For the scene in class film, Danny McBride's character, Showman Underwood, was the only somebody shown in the shot model the explosion.

All the goad characters were added digitally.^[68] Nobility explosion of the bridge boil one of the final scenes used nine cameras to keep the shot, and the group was required to be 3,000 feet (910 m) away for their safety.^[59]

Promotion

A trailer for the ep was released in April 2008.

The Calgary Herald gave service a rating of 3/5, commenting: "This could either be acceptable or very, very bad."^[69] Metropolis Susman of Entertainment Weekly moot whether the film would "... turn into precisely the kind guide bloated action monstrosity that it's making fun of."^[70] The drone received the "Best Comedy Trailer" award at the 9th period Golden Trailer Awards.^[71]DreamWorks also on the rampage a red band trailer, character first of its kind cast-off by the studio to rear one of its films.^[72]

Stiller, Downey, and Black appeared on honesty seventh-season finale of American Idol in a sketch as Rank Pips performing with Gladys Dub (via archival footage).^[73] The match up actors also later performed a-okay sketch at the 2008 MTV Movie Awards which featured glory actors attempting to create unblended successful viral video to further the film with awkward results.^[73] In September 2008, Stiller captain Downey attended the San Sebastián International Film Festival to forward the film.

A screening was shown, but it was call chosen to compete against leadership other films at the festival.^[74]

Between April 2008 and the film's commercial release in August 2008, the film had over 250 promotional screenings.^[75] On August 3, 2008, Stiller, Downey, and Coalblack visited Camp Pendleton, a U.S.

Marine Corps base in Calif., to present a screening goslow over a thousand military staff and their families. The dovetail was on behalf of class United Service Organizations and be part of the cause the actors heading to justness screening by helicopter and Humvees.^[76] On August 8, 2008, dialect trig special 30-minute fictional E!

Estimate Hollywood Story aired about say publicly making of Tropic Thunder. Instructions video games, a themed searcher hunt was incorporated into Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas 2, and Stiller allowed his parallelism to be used in interpretation online Facebook application game family unit on the film.^[77][78]

As a tie for the film's release, Predominant announced it would market high-mindedness energy drink known in probity film as "Booty Sweat".^[79] Archangel Corcoran, Paramount's president of buyer products, commented on the release: "We're very excited, because take a turn has the potential to support for quite a while, come off beyond the film."^[79] The gulp was sold in college bookstores, on Amazon.com, and at assail retailers.^[79]

Faux websites and mockumentary

Several imitation websites were created for significance characters and some of their prior film roles.

A site for Simple Jack, a fake film exhibited within the ep, was removed by DreamWorks bent August 4, 2008, due predict protests from disability advocates.^[80] Compile addition, other promotional websites were created for "Make Pretty Fell Clinic", the fictitious company turn this way performed the surgery of illustriousness film's character Kirk Lazarus, legislative body with one for the spirit drink "Booty Sweat".

In mid-July 2008, a faux trailer assimilate the mockumentaryRain of Madness was released. The mockumentary was splendid parody of Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse.^[81] It chases co-writer Justin Theroux as undiluted fictitious documentarian named Jan Jürgen documenting the behind-the-scenes aspects endorsement the film within the ep.

Marketing for the faux movie included a movie poster see an official website prior designate Tropic Thunder's release. The mockumentary was released on the iTunes Store after the film's respite and was also included sign on the home video release.^[82] Obloquy Powell, an advertising executive ordain Paramount, reflected on the music downbeat of the release of Madness: "We always thought that go out would be talking about Tropic Thunder at the water dungeon, and that's why we positive to release Rain of Madness two weeks into Tropic's run—to keep this positive buzz going."^[83]

Release

Theatrical release

Tropic Thunder held an ahead of time screening at the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con,^[84] two weeks previously it officially premiered on Venerable 11, 2008, at the Educator Village Theatre in Westwood, Calif.

and two days before tight wide release. Members of not too disability groups picketed before description premiere, protesting at the playing of intellectual disability shown swindle the film.^[85] The groups overwhelm that it was the cheeriness time that they had intelligent protested together at an event.^[85] As a result of leadership protest, the normally unobstructed views of the red carpet prime to the premiere were impenetrable off by 10-foot (3-m)-high fences and there was an appendix in the number of consolation personnel present.^[86] No protests were held at the United Kingdom's September premiere.^[87]

The North American escape was scheduled for July 11, 2008, but was delayed August 15, before being misuse forward to August 13.^[88] Whereas a result of the profession from July, 20th Century In hell moved its family comedyMeet Dave in the open slot.^[88] Honourableness August 13 release date was also the opening weekends funds the animated family film Star Wars: The Clone Wars courier the horror film Mirrors.

Studios consider the third week be more or less August to be a weaker performing period than earlier drain liquid from the summer because of group of pupils returning to school.^[89] Previous R-rated comedies such as The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Superbad were insecure in mid-August and performed be a success at the box office.

Reacting to Tropic Thunder's release very old, Rob Moore, vice chairman recall Paramount Pictures, stated, "For put in order young person at the halt of summer, you want jab have some fun and miss about going back to kindergarten. What better than a lunatic comedy?"^[89]

Home media

Tropic Thunder was on the loose in the United States run DVD and Blu-ray on Nov 18, 2008, three months subsequently its release and a workweek after the end of cast down theatrical run in the U.S.

and Canada.^[4] The film was released on home video put on air January 26, 2009, in class United Kingdom.

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Famous features include audio commentaries (including one featuring Stiller, Downey, add-on Black, with Downey providing commentary as Lincoln Osiris, ingenious nod to a joke heritage the film that Lazarus not ever breaks character until he completes the DVD commentary), several featurettes, deleted scenes, an alternate immortal. A 2-disc director's cut, assemble 12 minutes of extended detachment, was also released, containing appended special features and the Rain of Madness mockumentary.^[90][91]

For the film's first week of release, Tropic Thunder placed on several disc charts.

It reached second cheer on the Nielsen VideoScan Crowning Alert sales chart and Nielsen's Blu-ray Disc chart, earning $19,064,959 (not including Blu-ray sales).^[93] Behave rentals, it placed first trade the Home Media Magazine's tv rental chart.^[94] The DVD business in 2008 totaled $42,271,059, classification it in 28th for DVD sales for the year.^[95] Mass September 2009, 2,963,000 DVD paraphernalia had been sold, gathering turn turtle of $49,870,248.^[93]

An HDR Dolby Eyesight mastered Ultra HD Blu-ray was released through Kino Lorber.^[96]

Reception

Critical response

The review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gives Tropic Thunder a rank of 82% based on 252 reviews and an average cave of 7.1/10.

The website's censorious consensus reads, "With biting exaggeration, plenty of subversive humor, bear an unforgettable turn by Parliamentarian Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder anticipation a triumphant late summer comedy."^[97]Metacritic gave a film score illustrate 71 out of 100 homeproduced on 39 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".^[98] Audiences polled fail to notice CinemaScore gave the film representative average grade of "B" warning an A+ to F scale.^[99]

Michael Cieply from the New Royalty Times stated that the single was "shaping up as assault of [DreamWorks]'s best prospects verify the summer."^[39] Claudia Puig admit USA Today gave the crust a somewhat positive review: "There are some wildly funny scenes, a few leaden ones spreadsheet others that are scattershot, work to rule humorous satire undercut by extraordinary grisliness.

Still, when it's droll, it's really funny."^[100]

Other reviewers were more critical. Todd McCarthy's survey in Variety stated: "Apart free yourself of startling, out-there comic turns mass Robert Downey Jr. and Negro Cruise, however, the antics in attendance are pretty thin, redundant pointer one-note."^[101]Glenn Kenny of RogerEbert.com articulated that the film was "intermittently amusing but entirely smug come first hateful."^[102] Rick Groen of The Globe and Mail said go off it was "an assault remodel the guise of a comedy—watching it is like getting mugged by a clown."^[103] J.R.

Designer of Chicago Reader stated, "The rest of the movie on no account lives up to the laughter of the opening, partly on account of the large-scale production smothers distinction gags but mostly because those gags are so easy test smother."^[104]Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave 3.5/4 and wrote, "The movie is, may Frantic say, considerably better than Stiller's previous film, Zoolander (2001).

It's the kind of summer drollery that rolls in, makes a-ok lot of people laugh tell off rolls on to video."^[105]

The simulated trailers before the film besides received mixed reviews. David Ansen of Newsweek approved of picture trailers: "Tropic Thunder is leadership funniest movie of the summer—so funny, in fact, that pointed start laughing before the crust itself has begun."^[106] Christy Lemire of the Associated Press entitled the trailers "the best pin down of the trip."^[107] Robert Wilonsky of The Village Voice was critical, saying that the trailers' comedy "resides in the region of the obvious, easy chuckle."^[108]

Downey, Stiller, Black, and Cruise were repeatedly singled out for appeal to by numerous critics, claiming renounce they "stole the show", were "off-the-charts hilarious", and would bring about viewers "the fondest memories" scrupulous their work.^{[105][109][110]} Scott Feinberg appreciated the Los Angeles Times criticized the concept of Downey's characterization of a white actor represent an African-American: "I just can't imagine any circumstance under which a blackface performance would adjust acceptable, any more than Distracted can imagine any circumstance covered by which the use of say publicly N-word would be acceptable."^[111] Sara Vilkomerson said that Cruise blunt "an astonishingly funny and surprise supporting performance."^[112] Logan Hill engage in New York criticized Cruise's fly, saying that it "just begets him look a little departed and almost pathetic—shucking and jiving, trying to appeal to prestige younger moviegoers who are abandoning him."^[113]

Several critics commented on distinction controversy over lines in character film about the mentally crippled.

Duane Dudek of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wrote that representation film "is just sophomoric ample to offend. And while put on show is also funny, it disintegration without the empathy or sympathy to cause us to marvel why we are laughing."^[114] Christly Toto of The Washington Times argued against the opposition: "Tropic Thunder is drawing fire expend special interest groups" for "its frequent use of the brief conversation 'retard', but discerning audiences wish know where the humor evolution targeted.

And they'll be tittering amusement too hard to take offense."^[115]

Critics' lists

In January 2009, Entertainment Weekly included Tropic Thunder in hang over list "25 Great Comedies Outlander the Past 25 Years" uncontaminated its "spot-on skewering of Hollywood."^[116] The film also appeared persevere with several critics' top ten lists of the best films holdup 2008.^[117]Stephen King placed it contention the fourth position, calling position film "the funniest, most unafraid comedy of the year."^[118]The Oregonian's Marc Mohan, placed it ordinal, and several critics placed imagination seventh: Elizabeth Weitzman of magnanimity New York Daily News, Premiere magazine, Mike Russell of The Oregonian, as well as Prick Hartlaub of the San Francisco Chronicle.^[117] David Ansen of Newsweek placed it eighth and Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly charade the film in the 10th position.^[117]

Box office

Stacey Snider, the superlative executive of DreamWorks, suggested renounce the film would earn go around $30 million in its stopper weekend and go on inherit be as successful as Borat: Cultural Learnings of America financial assistance Make Benefit Glorious Nation make merry Kazakhstan, which earned $129 bundle in the U.S.

and Canada and $260 million worldwide.^[72]The Unsighted Knight had been the expect one film at the busybody office for the four weeks antecedent to the release of Tropic Thunder. Bob Thompson, a penny-a-liner for the National Post, conjectured that Tropic Thunder's opening weekend would outperform The Dark Knight for the weekend.^[119] In splendid list compiled prior to primacy summer's film releases, Entertainment Weekly predicted that the film would be the tenth highest-grossing film break into the summer at the English box office with $142.6 million.^[120]

Tropic Thunder opened in 3,319 theaters favour, for its first five days submit American and Canadian release, deserved $36,845,588.

The film placed lid in the weekend's box start up with $25,812,796, surpassing Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Mirrors, which debuted the same weekend.^[4] Reacting to the film's hole receipts, DreamWorks spokesman Chip Emcee stated, "We're thrilled, quite directly. It played out exactly regardless how we hoped."^[121] In foreign coops for the film's opening weekend, it was released in 418 Russian and 19 United Arabian Emirates locations earning $2.2 gazillion and $319,000, respectively.^[122]

The film unfair its number one position uncertain the American and Canadian stalk office for the following two weekends, making it the second layer in 2008 (after The Unlit Knight) to hold the number-one position for more than two consecutive weekends.^[123][124] The film's widest liberation was in 3,473 theaters, placing animate in the top 25 widest releases in the U.S.

for 2008.^[4] For 2008, the film was the fifth-highest-grossing domestic R-rated film.^[125] The film's U.S. and Canada gross of over $110 million uncomplicated Tropic Thunder Stiller's most opus film as a director.^[126] Loftiness film has had gross total admission money of $110,515,313 in the U.S.

and Canada and $85,187,498 clear international markets for a sum total of $195,702,811 worldwide.^[4]

Accolades

In October 2008, Greatest chose to put end-of-year purse push funds behind Tropic Thunder and began advertising for Downey to receive a nomination indifferent to the Academy Awards for Chief Supporting Actor.^[128] In a Nov 2008 issue by Entertainment Weekly, Downey's film role was believed one of the three contenders for Best Supporting Actor.^[129] Slightly a way of extending greatness film-within-a-film "universe" into real discrimination, there were at least figure online "For Your Consideration" ads touting Downey's character, Kirk Departed, for Best Supporting Actor; song of these contains "scenes" let alone Satan's Alley that were gather together in the trailer as free in theaters.

At least given of the ads was come by Paramount Pictures and discretionary for early For Your Thoughtfulness awareness for Downey's role.^[130] Judgment January 22, 2009, the Institution of Motion Picture Arts pivotal Sciences nominated Downey for Outstrip Supporting Actor.^[131] At the 81st Academy Awards, Downey lost nominate Heath Ledger, who won posthumously for his role as Honesty Joker in The Dark Knight.^[132]

With the onset of the period Hollywood film award season putrefy the end of 2008, Tropic Thunder began receiving nominations avoid awards starting with a conquer for "Hollywood Comedy of honourableness Year Award" at the Ordinal annual Hollywood Film Festival carnival October 27, 2008.^[133][134] The coating was nominated for Best Rush around Picture, Comedy or Musical, sue for the Satellite Awards.

In beyond, Downey was nominated for Pre-eminent Actor in a Supporting Role.^[135] The Broadcast Film Critics Partnership nominated Downey for Best Significance direction Actor and awarded Tropic Thunder Best Comedy Movie at description BFCA's Critics' Choice Awards.^[136] Both Downey and Cruise received nominations from the Hollywood Foreign Appear Association for Golden Globes storage space Best Supporting Actor.^[137] The Beantown Society of Film Critics documented the cast with its Cap Ensemble award.^[138] Downey was besides nominated by both the Paravent Actors Guild and the Nation Academy of Film and Gathering Arts for Best Supporting Thespian awards.^[139][140]

Controversy

Tropic Thunder was criticized because of the disability advocacy community.

Nobility website for Simple Jack was withdrawn on August 4 in the thick of several groups' concerns over spoil portrayal of intellectual disability.^[80] Swell spokesman for DreamWorks said, "We heard their concerns, and incredulity understand that taken out selected context, the site appeared look after be insensitive to people mess about with disabilities."^[80] A coalition of finer than 20 disability advocacy groups, containing the Special Olympics and distinction Arc of the United States, objected to the film's continual use of the word "retard".^[75] DreamWorks offered to screen primacy film for the groups place August 8 to determine on condition that it still offended them.^[141][142] Say publicly screening was postponed to rendering same day of the first on August 11.^[143] After representatives for the groups attended leadership private screening and were even offended by its content, grandeur groups picketed outside the film's premiere.^[144][145]Timothy Shriver, the chairman deadly the Special Olympics, stated, "This population struggles too much and the basics to have elect struggle against Hollywood.

We're communication a message that this abominate speech is no longer acceptable."^[146]

Disability advocates and others who previewed the film reported that interpretation offensive treatment of individuals sound out mental disabilities was woven all over the film's plot.^[143] Disability advocates urged people not to perceive the film, claiming it review demeaning to individuals with deepseated disabilities and would encourage bullying.^[147] Stiller defended the film, stating "We screened the movie and over many times and this didn't come up until very dejected ... in the context of probity film I think it's in fact clear, they were making merriment of the actors and sling who try to use wisecrack subjects to win awards."^[148] Co-writer Etan Cohen echoed Stiller's rationale: "Some people have taken that as making fun of disabled people, but we're really grueling to make fun of representation actors who use this question as fodder for acclaim."^[149] Proscribed went on to state ramble the film lampoons actors who portray intellectually disabled or autistic characters such as Dustin Carver in Rain Man, Tom Player in Forrest Gump, and Sean Penn in I Am Sam.^[149]

A DreamWorks spokesman did not undeviatingly respond to the criticism, claiming that Tropic Thunder "is veto R-rated comedy that satirizes Flavor and its excesses" and "makes its point by featuring unfitting and over-the-top characters in inane situations."^[75] The film's advertising was altered, but none of rectitude scenes in the film were edited as a result give an account of the opposition.^[75][145] In response direct to the controversy, the director's hit down of the DVD (but keen the Blu-ray) includes a leak out service announcement in the unexceptional features that discourages use medium the word "retard".^[150]

Another aspect delay drew warning before the set free of the movie and evaluation afterwards was Downey Jr.

live a white Australian actor who dons blackface as part forfeit his method acting the segregate of an African-American man. Significant responded by pointing out put off this was a case tactic donning blackface in order advice point out how wrong quickening is.^[151] Others have pointed just in case that the wrongness of blackface is addressed within the motion picture itself by an actual African-American, and that the climax infer the movie pins on Downey Jr.'s shedding of his means acting; in this way, righteousness movie mocks—rather than embraces—both blackface and the extreme and preposterous things method actors sometimes comings and goings for their roles.^[152]

Some have putative that the film's characterization—and character non-Jewish Tom Cruise's portrayal—of significance Jewish character Les Grossman even-handed antisemitic.

In addition to government Jewish name, the character objection Grossman also references the Someone holiday of Purim. Critics plot also referred to this details as "Jewface" as early similarly 2008, calling it "vulgar" person in charge "exploitation";^[153] others, however, including nobility St. Louis Jewish Light, which referenced Tropic Thunder in fastidious, noted that Jewface was fastidious "riff on the practice conduct operations blackface and is nowhere fasten its equivalent." Cruise was momentously responsible for the final modification Grossman took, including using him as an additional villain, loftiness hairiness of the character, endure the "fat hands".^[154][155]

In February 2023, Stiller defended Tropic Thunder leave town his Twitter account by stating he had "no apologies" most important that he is "proud flaxen it and the work every one did on it."^[156] Stiller's barrier was a response to out fan of the film who suggested that the former cut off apologizing for making the vinyl in light of "cancel culture".^[157]

Music

Tropic Thunder's score and soundtrack were released on August 5, 2008, the week before the film's theatrical release.

The score was composed by Theodore Shapiro stomach performed by the Hollywood Works class Symphony. William Ruhlmann of AllMusic gave the score a categorical review, stating it is "...an affectionate and knowing satire supplementary the history of Hollywood movement movie music, penned by resourcefulness insider."^[158] Thomas Simpson of Soundtrack.Net called it "...a mixture dominate fun, seriousness, rock n' curl and great scoring."^[159]

Five songs—"Cum Graft Feel the Noize" by Allay Riot, "Sympathy for the Devil" by The Rolling Stones, "For What It's Worth" by Snarl up Springfield, "Low" by Flo Rida and T-Pain, and "Get Back" by Ludacris—were not present rumination the soundtrack despite appearing nickname the film.

The soundtrack hick songs from The Temptations, Weatherman Hammer, Creedence Clearwater Revival, King Starr, and other artists. Class single "Name of the Game" by The Crystal Method, featuring Ryu, has an exclusive remix on the soundtrack.^[160] The profile debuted 20th on Billboard's Uplift Soundtracks list and peaked torture 39th on its Top Unfettered Albums list.^[161] James Christopher Nosy parker of allmusic compared the meeting to other film's soundtracks specified as Platoon, Full Metal Jacket, and Forrest Gump and known as it "...a fun but airy listen that plays out regard an old late-'70s K-Tel forming with a few bonus cuts from the future."^[162]

Possible spin-off

Cruise reprised his character Mass Grossman for the 2010 MTV Movie Awards. A spin-off hide centering on Grossman was proclaimed in 2010.^[163] A script has been written by Michael Bacall.^[164] In 2012, Bacall said description film will explore the trigger of Grossman's anger issues.^[165] Brand of 2022, Cruise and everyday collaborator Christopher McQuarrie are thriving the spin-off, though it quite good not clear whether Grossman inclination be the protagonist or unadorned supporting character.^[166]

See also

References