Tropic Thunder: A Victim Of Its Own Trailers
I went in to Tropic Thunder with high expectations. This was to be THE comedy of the summer. An outrageous, no-holds barred comedy tackling controversial subjects and blasting celebrities with reckless abandon. As I walked out, my head hung low, saddled with the World’s Straightest Face. Disappointment coarsed through my body, followed by depression from being so disappointed, followed by a gigantic order of nachos to stuff my sorrows deep into my belly. I couldn’t understand why something so promising left me so empty. Good thing I had nachos.
There was so much to like in this movie. Robert Downey Jr. balancing a line between sharp satire and C Thomas Howell’s Soul Man. Jack Black playing a heroin addict. A baby with a knife. So why did it all end so badly for me? I know the 2 minutes of an extraneous, unfunny Tom Cruise dancing at the end of the movie left a bad taste in my mouth, but it wasn’t enough to sink the entire movie. Finally, it hit me. I’d seen this movie before. That must be it! I knew all the jokes, could see the plot twists coming a mile away, and felt like I could quote about 12% of the dialogue on the spot. Well, turns out I hadn’t seen the movie before, but I did watch all of the trailers.
The trailers for Tropic Thunder destroyed the entire film experience for me. Movies usually have about three moments ruined by their trailer, but it’s a necessary evil because the trailer is what got you in the theater. Everyone accepts that. But Tropic Thunder ’s trailers, especially the red band, show you so much, there’s almost no reason to see the movie. You know everything about Robert Downey Jr’s character. You know Ben Stiller gets attacked by a child. You know he licks a decapitated head. These are supposed to be big spots in the movie, moments that get the biggest reactions. Instead, they played to silence. No one in the audience laughed when Robert Downey Jr. said “What do you mean you people?” because they’d heard it 30 times already. The only thing not spoiled by the trailers was Tom Cruise’s role, which is amusing at first, but overplayed to the point of exhaustion. I get the feeling they were having so much fun shooting, they just kept giving him more to do.
I did laugh during Tropic Thunder, but the biggest laugh came from a reaction shot Robert Downey Jr. gave. It’s a small moment that would never get trailer time, and it’s probably the reason I loved it so much. Everything else received only minor chuckles. More than any other genre, comedy needs to be spoiler-free, because the jokes must be fresh in order to work. Any punch from this film was reduced to a finger flick in the arm, and I place all the blame on the trailers.
August 22nd, 2008 at 9:20 am
I didn’t see one trailer for Trop Thunder. Maybe why I enjoyed it. Although, it irks me when a big punch-line is revealed in a trailer and a packed house continues to laugh at a joke they know is coming. OR, people laugh before the joke comes when they know it’s approaching.
Secondly, I didn’t know Tom Cruise was in this movie going in. The moment I heard his voice a rush of emotions and questions filled my mind. A key question – why would anyone put Tom Cruise in a movie unless they’re oblivious to the fact that no one likes 21st century Tom Cruse. There is no explanation for him being in this movie.
April 8th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Tom Cruise one of the finest performances and respested role and his cunning negoiation for his salary was his role in the LAST SAMERI. His work ethic impressed the sternest of Japanese stunt actors and Sword masters they actually applauded him for his work ethic and his excellence in his work. Saying all that Tom is a excellent actor. Once he marry Katie Holmes and his Scientology ways came to light on and over her life and now the chikldren life.With all the special cleannning diets and all the restrctions being put on Katie and the kids Its come to light how utterly crazy he is. Katie holmes was one of the sweetest people always with a good word and a smile on her face. I haven’t seen that smile in years and she looks clincally depressed most of the time.I no dr. but something is very wrong. Her parents are worried and her old freinds that are still allowed to see her are mortified at the changes. Cruise as good as he is at acting I would pay a cent to see anything he is apart of,he even telling Katie what she can and can’t do as far as roles. He has in essence enslaved her for his own pleasure, if she is asked she most of the time will tell everyone she and Tom are fine but in scret that’s not the line. Katie is scared not so much for her self but with Tom’s money,Laywers and connections if she gets out of line she loses her chilren. She wouldnt stand a chance and she knows it and so does everyone else. He has the power to do what ever he wants.