Tropic Thunder Making Waves In Hollywood

Protest Movie Recently-released movie starring Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr. is drawing criticism for portrayals of race and people with disabilities.

by The Associated Press/WKRG Staff

Published: Wed, August 13, 2008 - 9:38 am CST Last Updated: Wed, August 13, 2008 - 9:47 am CST

LOS ANGELES (AP) - It initially took some convincing for Robert
Downey Jr. to be part of "Tropic Thunder." Downey says when Ben
Stiller first contacted him, he thought it was a terrible idea for
a movie -- especially a comedy. But Stiller convinced him it could
work. Stiller plays a washed-up action hero who now leads the cast
of a Vietnam war epic. Downey plays an Australian method actor who
undergoes skin pigmentation surgery to play a black soldier. Downey
says there's nothing more "disgusting and entertaining" than
watching an actor who's taking himself very seriously. And, he says
he thinks the movie turned out to be far more entertaining than
controversial. The L.A. premiere of "Tropic Thunder" not
only drew the movie's stars, it also attracted protesters. Special
Olympics chairman Tim Shriver thinks the movie makes fun of, and
humiliates, people with intellectual disabilities. He and others
are upset by what they say is the "tasteless" portrayal of the
mentally disabled, along with the use of certain words to describe
them. "Tropic Thunder" director and co-star Ben Stiller plays a
fame-hungry actor cast in a war movie, after previously playing a
role as a mentally disabled character named Simple Jack. Co-star
Robert Downey Jr. says people have a right to protest, but he
also says artists have a right to say and do what they want.

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Sweetassuga04 Says:

Sun, Nov 09, 2008 at 9:02 am

Well….I thought the movie was soooo funny. Im glad they made it…and curious, you are right. Double Standards are what make up this country now. Its pathetic. I say if you don’t like the movie…don’t watch it. Simple as that. They just needed something to whine about. What about the movie The Ringer with Johnny Knoxville? Yes, it is hilarious too but it def. makes more fun of mentally disabled people…and yet I heard nothing about it when it was made. Maybe because they know Johnny Knoxville doesn’t care if he offends people and will make what he wants regardless. =]

RNuts Says:

Wed, Aug 13, 2008 at 12:06 pm

Even Eddie Murphy has dressed up and played white and oriental men. No one complained. I too want to know why there are double standards.

Tide Fan Says:

Wed, Aug 13, 2008 at 10:46 am

The nation of the offended…Somebody has always got to whine about something…

curious2008 Says:

Wed, Aug 13, 2008 at 10:26 am

As for the race issue, why is it that black guys can dress up like white women in the movie white chicks and the white race didn’t complain, but you let a white man play a black man and the black race wants to scream racism.