"Tropic Thunder" *** (out of four): Stiller & Co. deliver not only a clever action movie parody, but a beyond-meta, multi-layered satire that bites the Hollywood hand that feeds it.
If you're heading out to the multiplex this weekend, make sure you arrive on time. Without question, the funniest scenes in "Tropic Thunder" occur before the movie even begins. A series of phony ads and trailers are used to introduce us to the film's four main characters. Hip-hop superstar Alpa Chino (Brandon T. Jackson) hawks his "Booty Sweat" energy drink. Gross-out comedian Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black) plays a variety of flatulent characters in "The Fatties". Action star Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller) ushers in the umpteenth "Scorcher" sequel. But the Best Trailer Ever award goes to "Satan's Alley" -- a story of forbidden love in a remote monastery, starring Australian Oscar-winner Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey, Jr.) and none other than Tobey Maguire.
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i'm really looking forward to this one, has looked great from the first teaser. Stiller is very good he just needs to pick better movies, seems like he does anything that comes his way.