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:

• Robin Hood: Men In Tights
• Empire Of The Sun
• The Frat Pack
• The 81st Academy Awards
• Maria Menounos
• The Last Star In Hollywood Definitive List Of Tom Cruise Films
• The Last Star In Hollywood: Production Schedule

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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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