Tropic Thunder (2008)
Action, Comedy, War |
Tropic Thunder is a action comedy film directed by Ben Stiller. It stars Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Jay Baruchel, and Brandon T. Jackson as a group of prima donna actors who are making a Vietnam War film. When their frustrated director drops them in the middle of a jungle, they are forced to rely on their acting skills to survive the real action and danger. It is a parody of many famous war movies specifically those based on the Vietnam War.
The screenplay was written by Justin Theroux, Stiller, and Etan Cohen from a story by Stiller and Theroux. The film was produced by Stuart Cornfeld, Stiller, and Eric McLeod for Red Hour Productions and DreamWorks Pictures as an international co-production between the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom.
Hook-handed Vietnam veteran Staff Sergeant John “Four Leaf” Tayback’s memoir, Tropic Thunder, is being made into a film. With the exception of newcomer supporting actor Kevin Sandusky, the cast—fading action hero Tugg Speedman, five-time Academy Award-winning Australian method actor Kirk Lazarus, rapper Alpa Chino, and drug-addicted comedian Jeff Portnoy—all cause problems for director Damien Cockburn, who cannot control them, resulting in a million-dollar pyrotechnics scene being wasted. The project is months behind schedule. Studio executive Les Grossman orders Damien to get the cast under control or risk the project’s cancellation.
On Four Leaf’s advice, Damien drops the actors into the middle of the jungle, with hidden cameras and rigged special effects explosions to film “guerrilla-style”. The actors have guns that fire blanks, along with a map and scene listing that will lead to a helicopter waiting at the end of the route. Unknown to the actors and production, the group have been dropped in the middle of the Golden Triangle, the home of the heroin-producing Flaming Dragon gang.
Director: Ben Stiller
Writers: Justin Theroux (story & screenplay), Ben Stiller (story & screenplay), Etan Cohen (screenplay)
Stars: Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Tom Cruise, Brandon T. Jackson, Jay Baruchel, Steve Coogan
►Cast:
| Jeff Kahn | … | Snooty Waiter – Fatties Trailer |
| Robert Downey Jr. | … | Kirk Lazarus – Hot LZ |
| Anthony Ruivivar | … | Platoon Sergeant Shot in Head – Hot LZ |
| Jack Black | … | Jeff Portnoy – Hot LZ |
| Jay Baruchel | … | Kevin Sandusky – Hot LZ |
| Brandon T. Jackson | … | Alpa Chino – Hot LZ |
| Ben Stiller | … | Tugg Speedman – Hot LZ |
| Eric Winzenried | … | Chopper Pilot – Hot LZ |
| Steve Coogan | … | Damien Cockburn – Vietnam Crew |
| Valerie Azlynn | … | Damien’s Assistant – Vietnam Crew |
| Matt Levin | … | Cameraperson – Vietnam Crew |
| David Pressman | … | First Assistant Director – Vietnam Crew |
| Amy Stiller | … | Script Supervisor – Vietnam Crew |
| Danny McBride | … | Cody – Vietnam Crew |
| Dempsey Silva | … | Special Effects Assistant – Vietnam Crew |
| Bill Hader | … | Studio Executive Rob Slolom – Vietnam Crew |
| Nick Nolte | … | Four Leaf Tayback – Vietnam Crew |
| Jeff Weidemann | … | Speedman Assistant – Vietnam Crew (as Jeff Weideman) |
| Nadine Ellis | … | Speedman Assistant – Vietnam Crew |
| Rachel Avery | … | Speedman Assistant – Vietnam Crew |
| Darryl Farmer | … | Alpa’s Posse – Vietnam Crew |
| Rod Tate | … | Alpa’s Posse – Vietnam Crew |
| Maria Menounos | … | Maria Menounos – Access Hollywood |
| Tyra Banks | … | Tyra Banks – The Tyra Banks Show |
| Christine Taylor | … | Rebecca – Simple Jack Clip |
| Jel Galiza | … | Speedman’s Chef – Speedman’s Mansion |
| Andrea de Oliveira | … | Speedman’s Trainer – Speedman’s Mansion |
| Matthew McConaughey | … | Rick Peck – Peck’s Office |
| Yvette Nicole Brown | … | Peck’s Assistant – Peck’s Office |
| Reggie Lee | … | Byong – Flaming Dragon Compound |
| Trieu Tran | … | Tru – Flaming Dragon Compound |
| Brandon Soo Hoo | … | Tran – Flaming Dragon Compound |
| J. Thomas Chon | … | Half Squat – Flaming Dragon Compound |
| Jacob Chon | … | Half Squat – Flaming Dragon Compound |
| Tom Cruise | … | Les Grossman – Grossman’s Office |
| Mini Anden | … | Grossman’s Secretary – Grossman’s Office |
| Mike Hoagland | … | Grossman’s Assistant – Grossman’s Office |
| Jon Voight | … | Jon Voight – Awards Ceremony |
| Jennifer Love Hewitt | … | Jennifer Love Hewitt – Awards Ceremony |
| Jason Bateman | … | Jason Bateman – Awards Ceremony |
| Lance Bass | … | Lance Bass – Awards Ceremony |
| Alicia Silverstone | … | Alicia Silverstone – Awards Ceremony |
| Don Abernathy | … | Academy Award Attendee |
| Linda Bella | … | Jon Voight’s Date |
| Denise Bradley | … | Academy Award Guest |
| Ella Christopher | … | Stewardess |
| Natalie Cohen | … | Stewardess |
| Larry Cruz | … | Gorilla Soldier |
| Angela Daun | … | Starlet |
| Clark DeVol | … | Sack Race Boy |
| Josh Diaz | … | Awards Ceremony |
| Kaylee Dodson | … | Sack Race Girl |
| Jasmine Dustin | … | Trophy Presenter |
| David D. Espinoza | … | Audience Member |
| David Daniel Espinoza | … | Audience Member |
| Eric Feliciano | … | Academy Awards Audience Member |
| Joe Forbes | … | Guerilla Guard |
| Austin Honaker | … | Academy Awards Attendee |
| Miko Hughes | … | Radio DJ |
| Dave Johnson | … | Journalist |
| Jillian Johnston | … | Four Leaf’s Date |
| James Lew | … | Flaming Dragon Compound Person |
| Lesley Nicole Lewis | … | Booty Sweat Dancer |
| Tobey Maguire | … | Tobey Maguire |
| Fadhia Carmelle Marcelin | … | Academy Awards Attendee |
| Paul McMichael | … | Award show attendee |
| Anya Monzikova | … | Trophy Presenter |
| The Mooney Suzuki | … | Themselves |
| Chad Mountain | … | Agency Assistant |
| Brittany Perry-Russell | … | Booty Sweat Girl |
| Simon Rhee | … | Flaming Dragon Compound Person |
| DJ Rivers | … | Award Show Security |
| Samantha Sadoff | … | Farm Girl |
| Eli Santana | … | Academy Awards Attendee |
| Gaku Space | … | Guerilla Guard |
| Becca Sweitzer | … | Go Go Dancer |
| Kaye Marie Talise | … | Academy Awards Attendee |
| Sandra Valladares | … | Red Carpet Reporter |
| Julie Van | … | Oscar Attendee |
| Jobeth Wagner | … | Academy Awards Attendee |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia