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Awhile back TUA gave Tropic Thunder her highest rating ("one of the funniest films I’ve seen since 'Team America'”).
I didn't forget. We got around to watching it last night. Here's
my quick scorecard. Guffaws=0. Laffs= 1½,
Smiles=3. As often happens, however, my thoughts about this flick
upgraded somewhat overnight. There was a certain genius too it all, but
it ... was ... I don't want to say over the top, but something
was wrong. I think I'm tired of Ben Stiller.
There's Something About Mary put him on the map for me. Meet the Parents was good (I refused to patronize the sequel for casting reasons). Zoolander
was the best of the lot, but Stiller seems stuck in that character.
I read someplace that Tom Cruise "wowed" people with his role in
Thunder.
WTF? I wanted to slap him, possibly a carryover to his
jumping about on Oprah's couch, which thought I cannot erase.
Nick Nolte is a commie stooge, and Robert Downey, Jr - the best talent
in this group, couldn't
overcome the role he was handed. Of course TUA works in the
industry, so the Hollywood insider jokes may have influenced her, but I
will nevertheless give her a spanking when next we meet. I give it a
C-. Next on my NetFlix queue ... Rumpole of the Bailey: Series 6. I can give that an A+ in advance.
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I don't go to many movies anymore, usually only when Mrs. Annoyed starts whining "Let's DO something". I got tired of spending the entire contents of my wallet on a small popcorn and two hours of Suck.
ReplyDeleteI liked this one a LOT. I haven't laughed that hard since I first saw Achmed the Dead Terrorist, and you know how I feel about him. Yeah, I know many of the people in it are commies and assholes. Turn those thoughts off and just enjoy it. It's a darned funny movie.
AWM
I've yet to see Tropic Thunder so can't argue/agree any points regarding... but, I think one reason I delight in Ben Stiller's style and humor is due to how much I adored his parent's comedy team, Ann Meara and Jerry Stiller, on all those TV variety shows for stand-up skits. Gosh how I luved those two. :)
ReplyDeleteMy fav Ben Stiller roles (and this is a limited list) were: Happy Gilmore, "How about a nice cup of fuck the shut-up?"; Zero Effect with Bill Pullman; Zoolander!!!; Meet the Parents!!; Anchorman. Not so much on Starsky and Hutch. However, when/if Tropic Thunder shows up On-Demand, I'll be a'watchn it. :)
I have to agree with both of you.
ReplyDelete$30 for a small popcorn and two tickets makes it VERY hard to actually decide to see a movie at the theater. We have planned our next one, and that will be Star Trek in May.
When I watched a borrowed copy of this one, I turned off my political mind, (well, really most of my brain as a matter of fact) and enjoyed it for what it was. It was meant to be over the top. The thing I could have done without the most is seeing Black in nothing but what looked like a black cloth diaper.
Cruise was very funny in this one.
Makes me feel better about wanting to see Valkrye ..
word verification: gottacee....
Notice a lot of B. Stiller comments; here's one we liked - maybe a little highbrow for this crowd, but Dodgeball, a thoughtful and provocative little social commentary, done with a droll smile and a dash of the madcap should be included in any Stiller anthology.
ReplyDeleteBobby Ahr
Dodgeball?.....Nah..not for me. Way too highbrow, but I'm certainly happy that a man of your intellect and obvious education can enjoy such a fine piece of craftwork......Movies, they're your BEST entertainment, no?
ReplyDeleteStiller doesn't do a thing for me so I don't know why I wasted my time on Tropic Thunder. I made it through the first hour then gave up. All the almost funny parts seemed forced and the nonstop filthy language just made the flick all the more unbearable. Stiller's mother and father can't be proud of his work on this. No way.
ReplyDeleteYeah, even being stoned couldn't help this flick...The director, played by Steve Coogan, stole the show...his exit was the funniest thing in the whole debacle. What a disappointment, the extra features were more interesting.
ReplyDelete>>>
ReplyDeleteDodgeball is in my top 20 of funniest movies. EVER! Of course my other 19 are never agreed upon wih anyone else. Maybe it's my warped sense of humor.
(Not in any particular oder)
1. Caddyshack
2. Dodgeball
3. Fast Times at Ridgemont High
4. Blazing Saddles
5. History of The World - Part 1
6. Monty Python and the Holy Grail
7. Dr. Strangelove
8. Airplane
9. Naked Gun
10. Animal House
11. Young Frankenstein
12. Pink Panther
13. Zoolander
14. Princess Bride
15. Raizing Arizona (TURN TO THE RIGHT!!!!!)
16. Trading Places
17. Galaxy Quest
18. Mars Attacks!
19. Blues Brothers (part 2 SUCKS!!)
20. Slap Shot
Wellllll, ex-quuuuze me.
ReplyDeleteWell...I guess that Silent Movie, Blazing Saddles, and Airplane would top off my list....And remember...I AM a high school dropout.
ReplyDeleteMy "Dodgeball" comment was, of course, directed at the "Dodgeball" comment directly above mine.
ReplyDeleteJust so happens I watched Tropic Thunder, as a DirecTV PPV, over the holidays. I agree with your rating. Ok but not the funniest film ever.
ReplyDeleteWow, an American that has actually heard of Rumpole of the Bailey. I used to watch it in Australia... a long time ago.
ReplyDeleteSo is MoSup "she who must be obeyed" Rodger? ;-)
Dr. Shecky (Green) Crab~
ReplyDeleteAgree with much of your list, but if you're going to go Mel Brooks on us...how about a hat tip to High Anxiety?! Oh wait, is that one to high brow for Bobby Ahr? ;~p
JMcD:
ReplyDeleteAs a fellow HS dropout, if you add "Young Frankenstein" and "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" to the list we would be in total agreement.
Old Squid.
My wife and I and my mother were Rumpole fans - in the 80's? - every Sunday night, looking forward to the next one.
ReplyDeleteLeo McKern was wonderful in the role.
Lt. Col. Gen. Tailgunner dick
What? No one mentioned the 1963 original, It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World? An outstanding classic.
ReplyDeleteolds-mo-william
Nice list Dr. Shecky. However, shoot me, as I put Stiller up there with Jerry Lewis and Lucy. I'm good for 5 maybe 10 mins. tops then I had enough of them. Young Frankenstein (What Hump?) would be a great addition in place of any Stiller flick. I don't know how far we're going back but Bob Hope (and Bing)and Bill Powell (and Loy)did some great stuff too.
ReplyDeletehow about Operation Petticoat (" We Sunk a Truck !) Great movie.
ReplyDeleteSpanky
"Midnight Run"1988 Robert De Niro, Charles Grodin, Yaphet Kotto. An accountant is chased by bounty hunters, the FBI, and the Mafia
ReplyDeleteozaoB
The Rumpole of the Bailey series is pure genius. Each episode is guaranteed to be simply wonderful. Thanks for the tip. I will be scouring Netflix.
ReplyDeleteInfidel
It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World is one of my favorites. They don't make 'em like that anymore.
ReplyDeleteHoly Grail, of course. I've never liked anything from the SNL crowd. I did really like Bill & Ted but I wouldn't put it in my top 5.
Mel Brooks: Blazing Saddles is one of the funniest movies ever made, and thanks to PC, you'll never see anything like it again. Rent it, DO NOT watch it on TV. Young Frankenstein is also great. I don't like much else of his.
All-time funniest: Airplane, also killed by PC. Another that can't be watched on TV.
AWM
Tried to watch this turkey and thought it was one of the stupidest movies in my 61 years of life. The Tom Cruise part was stupid, I couldn't understand what they were saying, the plot was almost non-existent, Stiller and Meara are probably crying that their son made such a screwed up waste of time and energy.
ReplyDeleteNow, I'm no prude...not by a long shot. But Tropic Thunder was one of my 10 Worst of all time. Crude, rank, vile, disgusting...I could go on. With that going against it, how could it be funny? Young Frankenstein is the funniest movie of all time. And, I've been off the Ben Stiller bandwagon since before his first movie. Have fun this!
ReplyDeleteYoung Frankenstein. I laugh now at how I laughed then, and how I'll laugh again. Hello Netflix, I'd like to rearrange my queue.
ReplyDeleteI actually enjoyed it. I'm easy to please when it comes to movies, and I dug Tropic Thunder, in the theater, and at home.
ReplyDeleteHow many of you saw "Mad Mad World," or "How the West Was Won?" in Cinerama?
ReplyDelete1. Young Frankenstein
ReplyDelete2. Mad, Mad World
3. Dr. Strangelove
4. A Shot in the Dark
5. Lovers and Other Strangers
6. It's a Gift (W. C. at his best)
7. California Suite
8. This Is Spinal Tap
9. Operation Petticoat
10. M*A*S*H
Tropic Thunder? I don't think so.
Ernie Kovacs, nuff said.
ReplyDeleteBuggsey J. Foggelmeyer
In no particular order:
ReplyDeleteBlazing Saddles
Princess Bride
Life of Brian--so much better than the Oh God! series
Holy Grail
Strangelove--Peter Sellers' masterpiece
Operation Petticoat
Mr. Rodgers
Lemmon&Matthau's Odd Couple
So I married an axe murderer
Spaceballs
Idiocracy
and yes, zoolander.
Hey Chuck, was that Mr Rogers (Hello boys and girls) or I'm sure you ment "Mr Roberts"
ReplyDelete"How many of you saw "Mad Mad World," or "How the West Was Won?" in Cinerama?"
ReplyDeleteWaving my hand in the air here.
My Favorite comedies of all time in no particular order. I couldn't possible choose one over the others.
- Operation Petticoat
- Father Goose
- Bringing Up Baby
- Young Frankenstein
- The Blues Brothers
- Blazing Saddles
- Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein
- The Princess Bride
- Harvey
- MP and the Holy Grail
- It Happened One Night
- McLintock
- Hope/Crosby Road Shows.
- Anything with Red Skelton in it.
- The entire TV series of the Muppet Show.