Tropic Thunder

Debut: 2008
Director: Ben Stiller
Starring: Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black

So I'm going to go ahead and freely admit that I am currently feeling a little mixed about this one, but I will probably see it again just to get it all.

As we know, it's a movie making fun of movies, a huge challenge that has rarely been pulled off successfully. I will say it's a challenge in this film to remember that while you're watching, and that if you don't specifically remember that, it's pretty easy to think it's not that great.

But, if you are watching it and realizing that every last bit of action is exaggerated and every last actor takes themselves too seriously, you will find it hilarious.

I'm gonna go ahead and say my favorite part, which you catch a glimpse of during the previews, is when their director (played by Steve Coogan) actually gets blown up by stepping on a land mine. Stiller's character convinces the others that this is just a stunt to make them believe the director is seriously, and starts playing with the prop head that is supposed to be the real head. It's kind of disgusting, but it's also hysterical.

I do think a lot of work ( A LOT) went into this film, and it's important to recognize that everything is there for a reason. Including Tom Cruise dancing his ass off in the final scene, which, if not for anything else, this film is worth seeing.