FILMMAKER MOVIE REACTION!! Tropic Thunder (2008)

[@JamesVSCinema]

I'm the dude, playing the dude, disguised as another dude! Something new I'm excited to add to the mix here! Want to vote on what I should watch next? Click here! www.patreon.com/jamesvscinema Have a THE PUNISHER Episode on Friday and Band of Brothers on Saturday Enjoy the day!

[@iKvetch558]

I'm a rooster illusion..LOL

[@The_Bermuda_Nonagon]

If you are going to react to BAND OF BROTHERS let me thank you in advance - and let me assure you you are in for a treat. : )

[@dudehanzen4203]

Your my favorite dude keep up the amazing work bro. Please react to the outpost movie still waiting on that lol. Ok I request alot but again I promise you it will be totally worth and end up being one of your favs

[@dudehanzen4203]

The outpost please lmao

[@porkfrog2785]

unrelentingly side-splitting, surprising, satirical, manages to be crazy silly, absurd, and sly all at once. Fav parts are the bat scene and the kid prison shanking then toss for distance. I don't remember watching it more than once. Just too memorable. A detail I like is how it gets flipped on the confrontational guy who's outed as a worse poser than the character he's heckled all movie

[@Palmieres]

To me, the absolute best thing about this movie is that RDJ got nominated for an Oscar, for playing an Oscar-bait role in the movie within Tropic Thunder. It's so meta it melts your brain.

[@becksimilian2955]

I love that robert downey jr actually DID stay in character for the DVD commentary... including switching to an Australian accent at the end for Kirk. Only when the end credits start rolling does RDJ talk like himself lol

[@tfpp1]

Well, Tom Cruise’s character was Tom Cruise’s idea.

[@becksimilian2955]

@@tfpp1 yeah, the big hands and "we dont negotiate with terrorists" was all Tom's idea lol

[@seanbrooks2583]

yes. this so much. the commentary is actually funnier than the movie.

[@zbennalley]

@@seanbrooks2583 it really is

[@eddiecollison]

@@seanbrooks2583 Was going to say the same, it's every bit as entertaining as the movie.

[@emilym4276]

My favorite part about Tom Cruise's performance in this movie is that when Ben Stiller approached Cruise for the role, he said he would do it only if he got to wear a fat suit and dance, and Stiller was just like "uhhhhhhh.... sure we can do that I guess" and somehow it made this movie even better

[@MoreIrrelevantTwaddle]

I saw this in the theatre and my buddy and I both were arguing back and forth if that was Tom or not. Found out later in an interview about what you wrote, as well as the fact he said he wanted no billing, not to appear in trailers, no name on advertisements, nothing.

[@VadersRage]

@@MoreIrrelevantTwaddle I was so oblivious....I never even caught on that it was Tom Cruise. I mean NOW I see it (and can't unsee it) but had absolutely NO clue up until the end. Kinda like Eddie Murphy as the old Jewish man in Coming To America.

[@theplourde]

He also specified the fat hands i think as well and took hip hop dance classes for this movie too. Say what you will about his personal life - dude commits to his roles.

[@mycroft16]

@@theplourde This is my exact feeling about him. The man legitimately leaves everything on film. Every time. And he's pretty damn humble about it too. You know he had a blast with this film.

[@matias5817]

Robert Downey Jr. is my favorite african-american actor

[@ligmaballs8385]

What do you mean, "you people"?

[@AxeKick80]

@@ligmaballs8385 what do YOU mean “you people”??

[@WayStedYou]

But he is Australian in the movie D:

[@Marcelo-zy5fh]

Really, he's just a dude playing a dude, disguised as another dude?

[@jonathancunningham8739]

@manny " you know what F..k that man I am sick of this Koala hugging n telling me som SLAP," sorry I am white I do not like saying that word even in the comments I blanked out all but one letter so i hope some still gets this reference from the movie.

[@choney1168]

I’m still trying to figure out how in the world did Ben Stiller pitched this and how he got everyone to agreed to play their roles 😂😂 specially Tom Cruise!

[@spddracer]

Tom Cruise wanted the role, specifically so he could play that role as he did. Artistic freedom if you will.

[@DAMIENDMILLS]

Ben Stiller probably just told them the plot as it is and that was enough to convince them. They're actors, and actors really want to try challenging roles. Jack Black never played a heroine addict. Robert Downey Jr. never played a black man. Tom Cruise never played a fat, hairy producer. None of them ever played in a war movie. Challenges for acting are intriguing for actors of that calibur.

[@WayStedYou]

Tom Cruise is the one who said he would do it if he could wear the fat suit and dance.

[@WayStedYou]

@@DAMIENDMILLS you forget that he was a white american playing a white australian playing a black american.

[@DAMIENDMILLS]

@@WayStedYou no i didn't

[@44excalibur]

I can sum up Tropic Thunder in one sentence: It's the ‘This Is Spinal Tap' for the Hollywood film industry.

[@robertparker6280]

Basically

[@stevewilton8215]

RDJ in his absolute prime. Iron Man and Tropic Thunder came out in the same year.

[@robertparker6280]

The 2 movies that skyrockets RDJ into stardom

[@patrickgogan3517]

@@Joetorres3 he had just sobered up before that film so yes sort of a mini comeback before the real one

[@josefgordon7712]

The joy of watching people take joy in the same things you do is invaluable! People need to lighten up. Cheers!

[@viditjain2653]

When I first watched it, I didn't even realize it was Tom Cruise until the credits rolled in

[@generic_sauce]

Same! I kept thinking he looked familiar but couldn't remember from where lol XD

[@andrewmueller3391]

that was me too the first time i watched it. This is my fav role from him, completely out of character for him i thought

[@pablom-f8762]

The white dwarf heading into a black hole did it for me

[@alquimistaZ2]

And Robert Downey Jr didn't drop the character until the very end of the (very good) DVD commentary

[@redsands1001]

Best DVD commentary

[@Julku13]

And Jack Black was 45 mins late and had take out delivered in the middle 😂 no doubt the best movie commentary ever

[@CodeeXD]

He did say as much in the movie he doesn't break character till they wrap the DVD commentary

[@sobermind9885]

The funniest thing abot the line "I don't drop character until i'm done with the DVD commentary" is that in the moment he says that, he is breaking character. And we STILL believe in his dedication .

[@maximillianosaben]

This cast was unbelievable. Matthew McConaughey might even be the funniest one, but around Tom Cruise and RDJ, you could almost miss how good he is.

[@becksimilian2955]

Same everytime I watch this I think "damn Matt's stealing every scene" lol

[@ninamcsnow]

I just about died when he demands to be tied to a tree...

[@Biggiiful]

McConaughey holding up the picture of his "friend/client" in one hand, and the magazine for a G5 jet in the other...as he decides between his friend's life and wild riches....is hilarious.

[@stanleydavidlepretre4241]

2 years later I'm happy to give you the 100th like on your comment.

[@carlosdanger7907]

"I'll cradle the balls, stroke the shaft, work the pipe and swallow the gravy" That's romance right there folks.

[@numbersandsports4206]

I just spent like 30 seconds recovering AGAIN... at the 17:17 "SPIT THAT SHIT OUT MAN" line delivery, facial acting, the voice and knowing who is delivering it as well.... every single time I see that moment, before I know it comes up I try to tell myself "Alright, hold it in" ... I can't. It's just incredible.

[@susanmaggiora4800]

As a longtime jellybean user, I can’t imagine the hell Jeff Portnoy was going through. The middle of the jungle is the last place you’d ever want to run out of jellybeans.😥

[@tstumpf75]

"What do YOU mean, you people?!?!" 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@LJPhoto_]

…..HUH??! 😂😂😂

[@dante340]

This film is a masterful example of how to do satire. I honestly think aspiring storytellers can learn a lot from it.

[@christopherschreiber5805]

I love that scene when Robert Downey Jr.'s regressing through all his personalities. It kind of reminds me of the end of Terminator 2.

[@Foksuh]

RDJ getting Oscar nomination for playing an Oscar-seeking actor is pretty great.

[@busterval]

Rdj's other oscar nomination was for playing an oscar-winning actor, Chaplin.

[@robert_bbiii]

I think why they got away with so much in this is because it is a satire of Hollywood. People who don't get it don't understand what they are making fun of. Satire is so hard but this movie pulls it off perfectly.

[@tfpp1]

Or, put another way, the reason they got away with it is because nobody was "woke" back then. One of the first things cancel culture decided to do was to turn off its ability to recognize satire, yes.

[@MoreIrrelevantTwaddle]

@@tfpp1 Yeah, it would be significantly harder to pull this off today, but I also think its because of who he is. RDJ is not one of those vocal actors who push opinions and stands on soapboxes. He acts and stays quiet out of the limelight. Its much like Johnny Depp, prior to his divorce issue that is. Johnny Depp can play any role, and any culture, and most people won't bat an eye. Sure when he played Tonto some people complained, but it wasn't picked up or had much steam, that and the movie not being all that good.

[@tfpp1]

@@MoreIrrelevantTwaddle Absolute truth, what you say about RDJ. Gotta respect a man who knows how to keep his public work and his private political philosophy separate.

[@sleepyoyster4530]

"He ain't playing God.. He's being judged by him" 😂

[@Mubiki]

No matter how many times I watch this movie, I laugh hysterically when he yeets that child off the bridge. Hahahaha

[@bemasaberwyn55]

Or when Damian goes POOF 😂😂

[@Frostbite08]

Watching this in the theater was one of the best experiences I've ever had, just because of the intro. The amount of people in the audience doing double takes because they didn't realize those ads were fake. Priceless.

[@richieclean]

Two other films in the "actors mistaking a real scenario for a gig" sub genre: Three Amigos and Galaxy Quest. Both worth a watch.

[@kirkdarling4120]

Also "A Bug's Life." And it was a subplot in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

[@richieclean]

@@kirkdarling4120 Good shout.

[@ProQuo360]

Galaxy Quest kills me.

[@patrickgogan3517]

@@ProQuo360 "miners not minors"...

[@TamagoSenshi]

And "The Man Who Knew Too Little"

[@nofishinmydiet]

Jay Baruchel doesn't get enough love for this movie. Imo he's a sorely underrated actor. He's the glue that holds this movie together, but because his character plays it straight he gets overshadowed by the over the top performances surrounding him. (I'm not knocking the others, they're great and a big part of why this movie works so well.)

[@rangerrecon]

You have to have a straight man to center the chaos and pivot the movie around - otherwise it can be hard for the audience to connect as everything is too chaotic. It is the "sane" characters that allow the other actors to give over-the-top performances that we can still connect to and believe. I think that this was the difference between Zoolander 1 and 2. In the first Zoolander movie, we had the journalist (Christine Taylor) that we could connect to as she saw all of the insanity going on around her in the "male models" world. We could connect through her. In Zoolander 2 we didn't have that and it became too easy to get disconnected from the movie and see it as absurd & ridiculous.

[@ramzcoldlampin5460]

I love that RDJ calls him a different name almost every time throughout the film.

[@bemasaberwyn55]

@@rangerrecon you're not wrong. It's also why the first 2 Ghostbusters films work. And Jay has that everyman quality (It's also why I love Justin Long in Galaxy Quest)

[@cosmicjohn174]

RDJ got nominated for an Oscar for this role.

[@brodymacneil7570]

Probably would have won if not for Heath ledgers all time performance

[@Jay23445]

Brody MacNeil Nah, Philip Seymour Hoffman was next in line with his brilliant performance in Doubt.

[@HABO2210]

@@Jay23445 no

[@Jay23445]

Mario Habijanec Watch Doubt, it’s a great film with great acting

[@peddytendergrass6845]

@@cfbg splain! Who's jerking who?

[@maximillianosaben]

RDJ stayed in full character for the DVD commentary. He hilariously gives Jack Black sh*t for showing up late to the recording.

[@AaronHatcher]

This is one of my favorite comedies ever. Really one of my favorite movies ever. I dont like too many comedy movies but this and team America are in my top 10 fav movies ever. Downey is just amazing in this

[@phunkjnky]

It just now occurred to me that the shot of Ben Stiller running across the exploding bridge at the end, is satirizing the Tom Cruise running scenes in all of his movies. Maybe satirizing is the wrong word, but I feel like it is definitely a nod to it.

[@only1doran199]

My favorite part was when they’re taking tugg out and he walks through sunlight and he puts his hand up and turns his head as if he’s a vampire. Just excellent work all through

[@wingman4356]

Kirk Lazarus: "But are we cool?" Alpa Chino: "Not really." that line kills me

[@Shichiaikan]

One of the great things about this film from the 'behind' perspective is that it goes way into the meta with a lot of the things the crew/producers/etc. do which is extra funny if you get it.

[@RavenTheVelociraptor]

"I want to watch this film because it's funny and I like laughing" that is straight up the best reason I have ever heard to watch a movie.

[@bigsheed9003]

Tropic Thunder is one of those rare comedy movies that you find something new to laugh at each time you see it.

[@pillmuncher67]

People who say RDJ did blackface in this movie are the same people who think Daniel Radcliffe should be burned at the stake because he's a wizard.

[@nickmattio3397]

“(Gregorian Chant) Starring 2002 Best Kiss MTV Award Winner Tobey McGuire... 6 Time Best Actor Oscar Winner Kurt Lazarus...Satan’s Alley.”

[@flor8567]

the cow gave birth during filming when jack black was strapped to it, and the owners named the calf after him. EDIT: bill hader was blown by tom cruise's performance he forgot it was him until the premiere when they saw tom again without the makeup and prosthetics.

[@DaXia333]

I was 100% sure that you would skip over that insanely good 17:20 reaction from Downey Jr. I laugh my ass off every time I see it. Its a glimmer of 100% genuine emotion shining through and thats what makes it so awesome, sadly most people dont seem to get it.

[@Rob_Fordd]

Tom Cruise purposely played his character as a parody of Harvey Weinstein lol.

[@mrb5132]

You just blew my mind🤯🤯🤯

[@m0ys3s]

The most memorable thing about this movie for me was realizing that Less Grossman was played by Tom Cruse when i was reading the end credits Great movie

[@stockyphilb7663]

I love this movie. That line RDJ gives, the 'i'm just a dude' line, that's actually a 4th wall break. I'm not sure if they did it on purpose or not but he's literally referring to himself, because HE'S the dude, playing a dude, disguised as another dude. This movie is genius. Edit: Oh, and thanks for watching this cause i can always do with a rewatching of this film.

[@Uncle_T]

"What do YOU mean 'you people'?" So good. :)

[@AndyBestHP]

years back no one would have guessed that one of the top ten all time great comedy character/cameo performances would involve Tom Cruise.

[@williamclarke3162]

RDJ was fantastic in the film but Cruise deserved a nod as well cause that was a fantastic and comeback performance (wow two comeback performances in one film)

[@LtFrankDrebin100]

Downey’s face right after he spazzes out the “SCRIPTSPITSHIT SPIT THAT SHIT OUT MAN” makes me laugh every. single. time. Like, his face spazzes right after his brain makes his mouth spazz and the little weird smirk is just pure acting genius.

[@lafatte24]

Robert downey Jr's mandarin is actually pretty good. I appreciate that they tried to make mandarin accurate throughout and didn't switch around

[@EthanButler]

I love this one. One of the best comedies out there. Smarter than most satires out there. I'm surprised this commentary was able to be said with this big of a cast and crew.

[@rakeemsmith5890]

" I'll honest with you'll i thought he was black " 😳☠

[@dgrmn12345]

Thats how good an actor RDJ is, hahaha

[@Askonti]

For 400 years, dat word has kept us down. Took a whole lotta tryin just to get up dat hill... 😅

[@mycroft16]

This may legitimately be one of the best performances ever with RDJ doing this. It is unbelievably good. Scary how good he is in this. It's ridiculous. The whole cast is just phenomenally talented. This is a whose who of actors here.

[@sleepyoyster4530]

I also hope everything is okay and that you are happy? You kept saying "this is what you needed" so my heart goes out to you if you're having a tough time. Thank you for sharing a special reaction with us!

[@Hgoenge81]

Fun fact: he actually did the dvd commentary in character

[@papl20]

Yo my man! This is my favorite comedy EVER, it always makes me laugh non-stop like no other.

[@shrimplyfantastic]

Yet again, another solid movie reaction. Your channel keeps getting better and better

[@Alex-hm7nt]

I think the premise of this movie and how it all played out, genius. Next level. Even adding the fake previews, which ADDS to the movie without being just straight exposition, amazing.

[@NeugeCZ]

This shot at 21:00 continues to drive me insane! I'd swear to god that there is a scene in Event Horizon where Sam Neil has the same closeup shot, same lighting, and the exactly same line. For a long time, I thought that it's a funny easter egg. Then, a few years after that, I had a talk in the pub with another movie fan and he also remembered the same scene almost instantly after I started to talk about it. But when I later rewatched the Event Horizon, I didn't find the scene in the movie! Are multiple EH cuts out there or what¨s going on?

[@Chris_RS]

Isnt that from Apocalypse Now when Martin Sheens character finds Brandos?

[@cuberica]

That year they should have made two Oscars. For Heath Ledger and RDJ. Outstanding both.

[@peddytendergrass6845]

RDJ didn't kill himself. He handled the times of his corner. Heath was better in The Patriot.

[@dinsism]

RDJ gave a legendary performance lol Tom Cruise was a straight SAVAGE!

[@matthiasrauert8397]

Dude this is literally my favorite comedy of all time. So glad u covered it! Much love from bavaria :)

[@brianjohnson2905]

My all time . Rainy day movie... a movie that can be watched over and over again.

[@brandoncrow3741]

My favorite part of this movie is whenever Tom Cruise is on screen! 🤣 Say what you will about his personal views, you can't argue he's not an A-List actor. Just a hilarious performance, period. 👌

[@Dang3rMouSe]

"That's the theme song to the Jeffersons..." "Just because it's the theme song to the Jeffersons doesn't make it not true" Love that line😏

[@Philernator]

Let's do Royal Tenenbaums next, since you're on a Ben Stiller streak.

[@joeyboogenz]

i HAVE SAID SINCE 08' THAT THIS MIGHT BE THE BEST COMEDY OF ALL TIME . Masterpiece of filmmaking and too many stellar scenes to mention .

[@darkstar223]

He was literally correct he does the whole DVD commentary in character you have to listen to it on KZbin it’s remarkable

[@RagingRaven88]

I had the honor to watch this opening night and I had no idea what was in store. I didn't know what the movie was about, but my friends and I were obsessed with Robert Downey Jr. so we were in. Do you know the person that is a little extra when they watch movies, the person that laughs a little too hard, and a little too loud? Yeah I was that person for the entirety of this movie. I could not stop laughing, stomping my feet, and at the end of the night my ribs were hurting bad! It's still one of my favorite comedies and I cannot get past the performances. They are perfection.

[@cheesemonster6948]

There's so much subtle brilliance in this movie, overshadowed completely by sheer stupidity. And I think that's the point. Probably one of the most underrated films of our generation, as it really is so much more than a comedy.

[@williamwortman3039]

And if you listen to the DVD commentary he doesn’t drop character.

[@christianjgeorge7631]

This is a absolute Masterpiece!

[@rosswalnuts3316]

What a film to react to 😂 this channel can’t be topped imo, yours and Brandon’s anyway 🔥

[@flovonnejohnson707]

Can I just say that compared to all the white people that use the "blaccent" when they don't naturally speak that way. Robert downey jr's AAVE actually sounds pretty natural

[@bennychristensen4314]

The explosion at the bridge where Ben Stiller comes toward the camera and then gets yanked offscreen to the right is a direct homage of the scene on the bridge in Mission Impossible III where Tom Cruise gets blown into a car.

[@d.s.6268]

Probably my favourite comedy of all time. Thank you for a great reaction ! Another Ben Stiller comedy I absolutely love is "Zoolander".

[@abdush-shakurreid5280]

Dude loving the channel keep it up I don’t if this has been said already but at the part where you say that it’s over the top is a direct take from platoon

[@Subxenox15]

17:20 YES! I've always loved that it's Robert Downy 100% breaking character and starting to laugh, but it's just SO perfect and well timed, and he catches himself by going stoic..So fucking funny I lose it every single time lol

[@MrHale]

I remember watching this movie back in 2008 when it came out and saw Tom Cruise being credited and I had to check IMDB to see who he played.

[@obscillesk]

Hahahaha yea I love that moment with the "Book, script SPIT THAT SHIT OUT MAN" and that manic grin that turns into a near-blank stare

[@JamesVSCinema]

LMFAO my favorite part

[@samaruton]

Tropic Thunder?!!! Now you got me man - see you on patreon.

[@SilentBob731]

15:45 Literally one of the greatest line deliveries of all time.

[@AMightyWyn]

LOVE that you do these!

[@alecneedswork]

Definitely needed this reaction after a long work day

[@minjamike]

Wait, they changed “I’m a lead farmer MF” to “Here’s my MF farm” WACK!!

[@rangerrecon]

"I'm going into catering after this", "I don't know what it is called; I just know the sound it makes when it takes a man's life." - OMG, sooooo many great lines in this movie that I continuously quote. There are so many scene stealers in this movie... I agree, the ending credits were awesome. I listened to the DVD commentary and heard that the person that did the ending credits specializes in that. Lots of great background info in the commentary. For example, the bridge that they blew up in the end, like the whole village, was something the set designers had to build. However, the bridge had to be real as they needed to drive trucks over it, so blowing it up was a lot harder than the fake buildings that they made.

[@spddracer]

You constantly surprise me with movies that you haven't seen. I find myself sitting here scratching my head at times. All the same at least you are enjoying them. :D

[@FrancoisDressler]

John Toll is my favourite cinematographer and he made this one of the best looking comedies of all time IMO

[@tfpp1]

Since you didn’t mention it, are you aware that the moment at 5:40 is a parody of the war film Platoon? You should watch if you haven’t seen it.

[@KH-my5tr]

Totally! And the end when Speedman is having his crisis when getting rescued is Apocalypse Now. And then the the slow motion/ear ringing after the bride is blown up is Saving Private Ryan

[@filipohman7277]

Awesome Movie and Work Bro Thanks 👍👍👍👍😎Greetings from Helsinki, Finland 🇫🇮🇺🇸🇫🇮🇺🇸🇫🇮🇺🇸

[@kenobents992]

As much as I love your insights on filmmaking, you having fun with a movie is also a good time for me. You don't have to feel like you have to talk about filmmaking techniques to us all the time. Still enjoy it tho :) much love from Germany.

[@GregBourne]

The loose parodies to Apocalypse Now and its production hit me different haha. Aside from the Vietnam setting and chaotic production Stiller, the biggest diva, in the shadows is likened to Brando, a big diva, showing up to set way overweight so they had to hide him too.

[@МН1414]

One of the best comedies ever))) Simply brilliant.

[@chrissmith6097]

I love the fake trailers at the beginning. Perfect parodies of the types of movies each of the studios were making at the time, plus introducing us to the main characters. And that HDDVD vs Blu-ray argument, anyone who was old enough and on movie boards at the time remembers people saying those exact things 🤣 And I love Lance Bass was his “Lance”

[@dopefish2245]

I dont think a movie has ever made me laugh more than this. It was so funny and just so good

[@natetoonasty7920]

“I’m a dude playing a dude dressed as another dude”

[@owenallan2987]

I am so glad you reacted to this film man! Sorry I've not been watching as much, I'm writing a screenplay.

[@ExplodedBoot]

Give the DVD commentary a listen. He's still in character and it's awesome.

[@gregmattson2238]

yeah when I saw this video thumbnail I said to myself, there is no way that he hasn't seen tropic thunder before. i all-out love this movie. :)

[@Mortismors]

This was the best thing in the cinema, pure comedy gold.

[@GoldenChild2023]

Dude i dont know why you in a mil . You are real! Glad i saw your tube !!!

[@TheIcemanthomas]

One of my top 5 movies of all time