It has been 15 years since Tropic Thunder premiered on the big screen, yet the controversy surrounding the satirical comedy still lingers in the memory of those who have seen it. Released in 2008 and co-written by Justin Theroux, the movie stars Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., and Jack Black.
The film was met with so much backlash for a number of reasons: the use of blackface, anti-Semitic themes, and misrepresentation of people with disability. Both Theroux and Stiller, though, remain unabashed toward these criticisms.
Tropic Thunder Writer Defends Movie Amid Fans’ Outrage Over Problematic Themes
In an interview with Newsweek, Justin Theroux defends his work on the comedy movie and speaks about creative freedom:
“I’m a big believer in free speech. If you watch it again, there’s nothing that is that ‘hard charging’ about it. You know, it doesn’t seem that controversial to me because of who the jokes are aimed at. You know what I mean? It’s aimed at a bunch of dumb actors. That remains funny to me.”
The writer also noted how he hates the feeling of “entering a zone where you can’t make anything” especially when it came to scriptwriting. When asked if there’s a chance a movie like Tropic Thunder could be made today, Theroux said:
“It might not look the same, and it might not have the same jokes, but I think a film like that could be made today. I mean, people like laughing…”
Meanwhile, Ben Stiller, who starred as Tugg Speedman in the movie, has recently responded to a tweet pertaining to the criticism surrounding the project. The actor expressed zero regrets on Twitter:
“I make no apologies for Tropic Thunder. Don’t know who told you that. It’s always been a controversial movie since when we opened. Proud of it and the work everyone did on it.”
Iron Man actor Robert Downey Jr. played Australian method actor Kirk Lazarus while Jack Black portrayed drug-dependent comedian Jeff Portnoy. Together with Stiller’s Speedman, the three characters get cast in a war movie whose director wanted to twist his little project, thus putting them in a real jungle with hidden cameras. The fun starts as soon as these actors try to survive and escape the dangers of a real war zone.
Tropic Thunder’s Controversies Remain Prevalent In Today’s Media
Despite the flak, Tropic Thunder performed well at the box office and garnered over $195 million worldwide. It also gave Downey Jr. a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the Academy Awards.
Several fans criticized the film for its use of blackface on Downey Jr.’s character. Lazarus uses method acting to portray the role of a Black army sergeant and even went under the knife to achieve authentic skin color. Another scene that sparked debate was Tom Cruise’s portrayal of Jewish studio executive Les Grossman.
Because the controversies surrounding Tropic Thunder remain prevalent today, the negative feedback most likely won’t die down anytime soon. This is not the only movie with problematic themes nowadays; regardless, it remains one of Ben Stiller’s most successful projects as a director.
Tropic Thunder is available on Apple TV, Prime Video, and YouTube.
