Tropic Thunder

Telling the story of a group of actors and a director trying to make the most expensive war film ever made, Tropic Thunder shows that the war film genre is one that is ripe for parody.
The film most obviously lampooned here is Apocalypse Now, with its famously hellish shoot and diva like behaviour of some of its stars.
In Tropic Thunder we have Tugg Speedman, a fading action star played by Stiller and Jeff Portnoy, an Eddie Murphy like comedian played by Jack Black, both of whom are seriously damaged individuals. Speedman because of his failure to have been recognised as a serious actor, and Portnoy due to his addiction to an unnamed narcotic.
Added to this, there is the multi Oscar Winning actor Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr), who is so committed to his role that he has undergone surgery to dye his skin in order to play a black man.
When the film in which they are starring goes horrendously over budget and behind schedule, the director opts to dump his three main actors into the jungle and film them trying to make their way out.
Although the premise of mocking pretentious actors and ruthless movie executives has been done before on television, most notably in Ricky Gervais' Extras, Tropic Thunder is lifted above the mediocrity of most comedy films due to some of the genuinely hilarious performances of some of its stars.
Downey Jr is the standout turn, in a role that could have been seen as offensive but under his guidance becomes likeable and funny.
Add to that a cameo from Tom Cruise that has to be seen to be believed, and you have one of the funniest and most ambitious comedies to come out of Hollywood in 2008.

VERDICT: 4 out of 5

See the trailer for Tropic Thunder