Starring Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr. Written by Ben Stiller, Justin
Theroux, Etan Cohen. Directed by Ben Stiller. (14A) 107 min. Opens Aug
13.
That Robert Downey Jr. manages to make it through Tropic Thunder without being attacked on screen by representatives of the NAACP proves that he truly is the man of the summer. Downey’s meta-racist-but-still-pretty-racist portrayal of an Australian actor who takes his role in a Vietnam war movie too far is inevitably the edgiest thing about Ben Stiller’s action comedy, but Tropic Thunder turns out to have a few more weapons in its arsenal.
Another is the double-brah blast of Matthew McConaughey and Tom Cruise — though cast in supporting parts, they very nearly steal the show from the dudes on the posters. In fact, Stiller is remarkably fair-minded when it comes to providing all his players with the screen time they need to do their thing, be it Jack Black’s flatulent funnyman, Stiller’s own turn as a fading action star trying to branch out in “retard” roles or Jay Baruchel’s much-needed contribution as the straight man among the nutbars. And though the overly high-concept nature of the storyline gums up the pacing in the first half — viewers and actors may be equally confused as to who’s supposed to be in character and why — the plan comes together in a way that would do the A-Team proud. Of course, B.A. Baracus might have a few choice words for Mr. Downey.