In Tropic Thunder (2008), some actors, their director, and a member of the crew are filming a movie about the daring rescue of a captured American soldier during the Vietnam War. They accidentally move off-set and out of Vietnam, into Laos --the territory of a heroin-trafficking drug cartel. Except they still think they are filming a movie!
They are:
1. Tugg Speedman (Ben Spiller), an action-adventure star who tried to move into drama with Simple Jack, about a mentally-disabled farm boy. It bombed, but it happens to be the drug cartel's favorite movie.
2. Rick Peck (Matthew McConaughey, left), his agent and gay-subtext best friend. When Tugg is captured by the drug cartel, he rushes to the rescue.
3. Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black), famous for a series of movies about a family who farts. If you like chub, he's got an extended scene tied up in his underwear (which displays quite a bulge).
Left: Jack Black's but
4. Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr., left and below), an Austalian superstar who always stays in character, playing a black soldier.
More after the break
5. Kevin Sandusky (Jay Baruchel), the "kid," in his first major movie role.
Left: Jay's butt
6. Cody Underwood (Danny McBride), the munitions expert and helicopter pilot, whose career has involved maiming several actors.
7. Four Leaf Tayback (Nick Nolte), who wrote the book that the movie is based on, the only survivor of the real rescue mission. Or is he?
8. Alpa Chino (Brandon T. Jackson), a rapper whose brand is about how many hos he gets; he even sells a drink called Booty Water. When the guys are discussing whether they have a "special someone" waiting back home, he admits that he's interested in someone, but 'it's complicated.": Lance (gay actor Lance Bass, left).
After their initial surprise, everyone is supportive, but he backs away, claiming that he misspoke. Coming out would definitely affect his brand. But he is shown sitting with Lance at the Oscars.
Beefcake: Just Jack Black.
Gay Characters: Alpa Chino, of course. We also see trailers of the character's other movies. In Satan's Alley, Kirk Lazarus and Tobey Maguire play gay monks.
Gay Subtexts: Tugg-Rick and maybe Tugg-Lazarus.
Heterosexism: None. There aren't any women in the movie, except for Kevin's date at the Oscars.
Offensiveness: I heard that this movie was extremely offensive, so I went in expecting constant homophobic slurs and gay "accusations." Nope. One "cocksucker." That's all. The portrayal of Simple Jack is rather cringey, but I'll take it for the pleasure of getting through an entire movie without being laughed at or called disgusting.
My Grade: A-
See also: The Naked Thugs, with more chubby guys
Arthur Napiontek: Comedian, model, geographer, heterosexist man-candy
Well, the offensiveness comes from Robert Downey Jr. in blackface, though I'm not sure this really qualifies as blackface, exactly. And Brandon Jackson's line, "What do *you* mean, 'you people'," made me giggle for a week.
ReplyDeleteI didn't check the cast list in advance, and actually thought the the actor was black throughout most of the movie.
DeleteThe gay monks in love trailer is funny- also why are people offended by the black face- this is a farce
ReplyDeleteThe only offensive the reviews talk about is the "retard" conversation, which is rather difficult to listen to. Imagine if they were using the slurs of another group.
DeleteI saw this only once which was enough- no that word would not be used now
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