"Tropic Thunder"
(***) (thumbs up!) (see it! own it!)
Again, Ben Stiller has proved that when he directs, its undoubtedly good & funny ("Zoolander", "The Cable Guy", "Reality Bites"). In fact, I like him much better for his movies that he's directed, than the movies he's only starred in (MUCH better).
"Tropic Thunder" isn't 1 of those lame comedies w/ random yet predictable jokes & puns: its everything about Hollywood that must be spoofed; including stars of redundant action-franchises w/ too many installments , rappers who somehow find their way into serious-movie deals , comedians of 2hr. fart-joke after fart-joke movies , and Australian actors in which everything they do turns to gold... (the last part I don't mind, because it is rightfully true, and I respect most if not all high-budget Australian actors & their work... but I do think a parody of them wouldn't hurt).
@ 1st, I thought for sure Robert Downey Jr. was going to steal the show w/ his role of the Oscar-Winning Australian actor who has surgery done to play the African-American Sgt. ... but, SURPRISE! ... it was Tom Cruise who stole the movie... yes, Cruise makes THEE-BEST Cameo in any movie (especially comedy) I have ever seen. I wont spoil WHO Tom Cruise is, and WHAT he does... but, it truly is the best of "Tropic Thunder".
The ONLY complaint I have for this, is that there were 1-too-many drug-abuse jokes involving Jack Black. But besides that, everyone did a great job in this movie. As for summer-comedies? -- this is mostly tied w/ "Pineapple Express". & NOTHING (comically) beats the 3 fake trailers in the beginning.
OVER-ALL: definitely the only comedy this summer that could be a runner up to "Pineapple Express", as 'Best Summer Comedy'.
*I take No Credit for the poster. I got it from photobucket*
