The Last Star In Hollywood

The Last Star In Hollywood


30: Tropic Thunder

May 21, 2024

This week, let’s be controversial with Ben Stiller’s 2008 action-movie satire, Tropic Thunder! How do we talk about comedy? Is friction inherently interesting? Who can stick the landing on double-reverse satire?



Content warning: discussions of racism, ableism, antisemitism, hate speech, drug use, gun violence, military violence, gore, misogyny, profanity





Unanswered Questions:




  • Which of the controversial elements of the film have aged the worst? Which have aged the best?

  • Is Stiller a convincing leading man?

  • Should Robert Downey Jr. have been nominated for the Academy Award?


Further reading:





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Join us next time we return to very serious and worthy film-making with the World War II drama Valkyrie (2008)!



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