TROPIC THUNDER (2008) *1/2 Nick Nolte, Tom Cruise and Robert Downey, Jr.-probably in that order-are capable of (and have the celluloid to prove it) cinematic greatness. Jack Black and Ben Stiller have similar credentials and pedigree in terms of moments of low comedy of the highest order. They're all in it, and some other good guys too, no one does a bad job... so why does IT SUCK!!!!! Well, not suck in the most vitriolic sense of the term, but why isn't it any good, much? The opening fake "coming attractions" segment demonstrates the reality that they're all smart enough to be sick and tired of Hollywood formulas, that they're ready to make fun of them and do know how...and the feature moves into that territory of the suffering soldier flick. This all seems promising enough. But then their collective anger defeats them, Yoda, they lose sight of anything but making fun of dumb things and become one (albeit a different one) themselves. Mockery for the sake of mockery works only if it is of the highest order, and this ain't. It has its moments (Jack Black tied to the tree), but never gets close to accomplishing what it set out to do, even if it didn't set out to do much of anything. Still, with all those actors, and none of them being too bad, you have to declare a winner, especially in something like this. Tom Cruise wins. He knows something about that black heart of Hollywood mogul, and his joyless but unbridled enthusiasm in dealing mercilessly with kidnappers...says something. He makes the closing credits something worthy of what the film had hoped to be.
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