Mar 10 2008'Tropic Thunder' Humorless Teaser Trailer
Many traditionalists will argue that a teaser trailer to a comedy should, in some way, hint at the presence of humor--that there should be some indication that comedy may occur. Not so, says this trailer to Ben Stiller's Tropic Thunder, noting that Robert Downey Jr. in blackface and a man saying "motherfucker" could almost be considered humor if you've never smiled before.
But seriously, were there jokes in this? Where? More importantly, why does it look like a fan-made trailer, cobbled together from available production stills and an Entertainment Weekly feature?
Reader Comments
1. J. Smith - March 10, 2008 1:15 PM
From what I gather, its supposed to be the trailer for the movie in the movie. Not that it excuses the general lack of funny, but I can see where they are coming from with it.
2. whistle - March 10, 2008 1:20 PM
If it were for the movie inside the movie, why did they use the actor's real names, instead of thier character's names?
3. jmstarnes - March 10, 2008 1:52 PM
I guess the funny part will be included in the full trailer.
4. proteon - March 10, 2008 2:07 PM
The "contraversy" around RDJ's make up is all that separates this movie from Semi Pro.
5. Alan Smith - March 10, 2008 2:47 PM
how was that NOT funny? i mean I don't know about you guys but I always bust up laughing when I see words and pictures side scrolling across the screen
hilarity
6. what - March 10, 2008 6:04 PM
that was dreadful! so Downey jr makes a kickass flick like iron man n then jumps onto this piece of garbage? he should kill his agent!
7. Anthony - March 11, 2008 12:28 AM
Why does everything have to be lumped into a specific genre? Why can't it just be a teaser for the movie? This was awesome.... I have high hopes for Stiller as a director. I hate 8 out of 10 movies he does, but as a director I think he's pretty solid. Cable Guy was awesome, and Downey Jr.'s one of the best actors around, man!
8. Pat - March 11, 2008 1:47 AM
um?
And the Downey, Jr. blackface thing really bothers me.
9. 420 - March 11, 2008 3:16 AM
@9: Thanks for censoring the world "ad*lt". I'm pretty sensitive to words like that.
I can't really make a full opinion on this movie based on a teaser, seeing as it's exactly that, but I think I'm bound to enjoy the combination of those actors in one movie. I guess we'll all know more when they want us to, but until then, I have no problem with it all.
10. jason - March 11, 2008 7:27 AM
uhm... because its not a teaser, just a website intro that people passed around as a teaser. good way to knock it this early though.
11. Big City - March 11, 2008 11:22 PM
Wow, there's a lot of moron tools in here. There's not even enough here to dislike. I think this will be funny. You guys are just thrown off cos it doesn't have red text on a white background.
PS: Blackface is only bad because white people dressed like black people to act like completely goofy idiots and perpetuate stereotypes. That's not exactly what is going on here.
12. Ambi - March 13, 2008 2:50 PM
RDJ is quickly becoming my favorite actor.
13. Tom - March 18, 2008 5:09 AM
You never mentioned it would be BLACK people saying "motherfucker". This changes everything!
14. Mark - March 20, 2008 4:28 AM
Brilliant teaser trailer, new official trailer up on youtube. Check it out!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE3qpo4YD1U
15. Mark - March 20, 2008 4:30 AM
Check Out The Official Trailer for Tropic Thunder.
Looks Brilliant