Review: Thunderous Laffs,Tropic Thunder

To say Tropic Thunder is funny is sorta like saying Angelina Jolie is beautiful. Duh. How about this: it’s so funny.  Too often, if you’ve seen a comedy’s trailer you’ve caught the best laughs, but Tropic is chock full of them. It’s smart comedy giving us a satirical look at a big-budget movie gone horribly wrong. And there’s a real ring of truth to the way it exposes not only the self-indulgence of many actors today but the awful excess that can often sink a movie.

The plot? A troupe of spoiled Hollywood actors shooting a big-budget Vietnam war movie run into a real-life drug cartel when they are taken away from the set to shoot “guerilla-style.” It’s all about capturing their fear when faced with enemies hiding in the jungle and being surprised by big loud explosions to keep them jumping.

Ben Stiller plays Tuggs Speedman, a not-too-bright action star who can’t cry on cue. Robert Downey Jr. is Kirk Lazarus, an Oscar-laden Method type who doesn’t like to break character — and this time he’s undergone quite a transformation to play African-American. This annoys his fellow ”brother” who’s the real deal, rapper/actor Alpha Chino ( Brandon T. Jackson.) And surprise —  Jack Black is his usual hysterical manic movie persona, playing a drug-addicted comic star best known for his farting ability. Black spends a lot of time running around in his underpants — which is a visual you can really never grow weary of.

While it’s nearly impossible to eclipse the irrepressible Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr. does it in this movie. He’s comical in ways that are just plain brilliant as he muses about character, and at times thinks he really is a black man struggling against the world. It’s ridiculous and absurd but you buy it.

Throughout the movie, the only actor who doesn’t realize that they’re no longer shooting a movie is Tuggs. He desperately wants to be a leader and a good actor and sets off on his own to eek out the best performance ever. And while the actors try to get back to civilization and must eventually rescue Tugg, Tugg’s materialist agent  (Matthew McConaughey) and {SPOILER ALERT) a foul-mouthed studio mogul (a cameo by Tom Cruise) are busy negotiating with the drug cartel.

Well, of course, the secret’s out about Tom Cruise’s cameo. And guess what — he’s really funny. It’s a good time for Cruise to get cool again. A very good time indeed.

Bernie Mac: Goodbye to a Solid Man

Death is always sobering. It is particularly sad when someone goes before their time. Today, we say a sad farewell to Bernie Mac.

He died today, Saturday, 8-9-08 at  age 50.

Yes, CNN has done it’s in-depth explanation of what sarcoidosis is – but does that make it easier to process the simple fact that death can come at any time, anywhere?  It seems Bernie had dealt with his illness for years and that makes you admire him even more. He lived his life to the fullest, and achieved wonderous success. And his illness could have stopped someone with lesser character. But Bernie was someone who decided to go the other route - he dared to purse greatness – and made no excuses.

I admit – I wasn’t a fanatical fan of Bernie’s, but I always appreciated and underestimated his presence. He was funny and good. And that’s the art of someone who is extremely talented  - they make it look effortless.

My prayers go out to his family. They must be missing him dreadfully tonight.

Sooper-Superficial: The Hills

Yes, any reality show wanting to topple The Hills has a tough climb ahead of them. The Hills are alive – with the sound of ratings.

Entertainment Weekly’s cover story: The Hills: The Most Intimate Look Ever at  TV’s Superficial (And Sensational) Reality Hit had me saying “Yeah, uh-huh I told you so. Superficiality lives.” Read the online tale: They Shoot, Lauren Conrad Scores.

Oh, it’s not a secret, I was a big fan of L.C. back in the day when Laguna Beach was my reality du jour — but only with the original kids – the next batch of Orange County brats seemed to be missing a few links. Can you spell DUM?

Yes, the original Laguna Beach was so dreamy — and who knew that Lauren would be the breakout star? Let me tell you, growin’ up, my experience with Laguna Beach was totally diff from that brat pack of beautiful rich kids with their emotional troubles and intrigue. And the seemingly daily mani/pedicures.

Yes, when I was a teen in a faded one-piecer my mom would load us into the family station wagon for a horrendously long drive to go to her very private beach, known by the locals as “Shark’s Cove.” Never occurred to her that the beach was empty because of the name…Shark’s Cove…Shark’s Cove…ummm. But I survived as we all somehow do.

Anyhoo, when L.C. spun off to be Lauren (her big grown up name) on The Hills I predicted it would be an uber-hit even though everyone mocked me whenever I would TIVO it and watch it and say SSSH…even though the cast wasn’t saying all that much. I wanted to hear every single word.

But yes, it’s true, it’s MTV’s highest-rated series.

Again, what’s not to love — beautiful youthful kids with money who live the life you never dreamed possible? But still, it’s hard to find love, be successful at work and have friends you can count on. Yes, the show wants to make  you think that deep down they’re really just like the rest of us poor slobs.

But even though that’s a beautiful lie, I do love Lauren, Whitney and Audrina — I do, I do I do. And I thought the evil Heidi was quite the vision until she hit the knife. What is it with plastic surgery these days? Step away from the operationing table, young ladies, please.

There’s a reason for the five stars with this show, it’s just frothy. I haven’t tuned in for Season 4 but that’s the beauty of reruns.