Tropic Blunder?

The new movie Tropic Thunder comes out today, and already there's plenty of controversy.

By now, you've probably heard the tagline. "The movie they think they're making... isn't a movie anymore."

It all takes place in Tropic Thunder, a story about a group of actors shooting a big-budget war movie when one of them is actually taken captive and the others are forced to become the soldiers they are portraying.

Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. lead an ensemble cast that is already being attacked and praised in the media.

Much of the controversy centers on Downey, who plays his character's role in blackface.

Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert says Downey practically steals the show. Downey "is not merely funny but also very good and sometimes even subtle as Kirk Lazarus, an Australian actor who has won five Oscars and has surgically dyed his skin to transform himself into a black man," writes Ebert. "So committed is he to this role that he remains in character at all times, seemingly convinced that he is actually black."

Meanwhile, E! Online's reviewer, Skylaire Alfvegren, also manages to look past the racial issue. "Some viewers might find something offensive if they were able to stop cackling long enough," writes Alfvegren.

Over at CinemaBlend, reviewer Josh Tyler gives the flick 4 out of 5 stars. "Because of gutsy, crazy performances from Downey, Black, Baruchel, Cruise and the rest, Tropic Thunder is a comedy phenomenon in the waiting," writes Tyler. "It's the next Austin Powers or Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It's the hardcore, horribly offensive, must see comedy of the summer," he says.

Bill Gibron at Filmcritic.com agrees, calling Tropic Thunder "one aggressive mofo of a Tinseltown slam." But Gibron warns, "If it weren't created by certified A-list talents trading on both their reputations and their reasons for being, it would be career suicide for all involved."

Even Daily Voice film critic Clay Cane liked the movie. "Good news, Robert Downey, Jr. playing a black guy, is not offensive. Before anyone shouts black face, I would recommend seeing the film," writes Cane.

Cane says Robert Downey Jr. "is the true star of the film, landing each joke and convincingly plays a white guy who can convincingly play black." Cane does say that "Downey's Negro voice and blackedy-black jokes were grating, especially during an argument over the N-word." Despite that criticism, Cane finds Downey's delivery "is pure, funny, and void of racism."

So what's all the fuss about?

The film is gleefully offensive, harrowingly politically incorrect, writes film critic William Arnold in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. And that may be the problem.

Daily Voice contributor Jasmyne Cannick reminds viewers of the racial history of white actors playing stereotypically offensive black roles in blackface and fears that the new film will "open the floodgates and validate the use of blackface for entertainment purposes."

Cannick is not optimistic about Hollywood's racial sensitivity. "Now for the record, I don't for one minute expect for Hollywood to take into consideration the history of blackface in America and how it makes me feel as a Black woman," she writes. "I mean this is the same industry that forced Norbit on us--which single handedly managed to reinforce the negative stereotypes of obese Black women in 102 minutes to the tune of $95 million."

Cannick cites published media reports where Robert Downey Jr. is quoted as saying, "If it's done right, it could be the type of role you called Peter Sellers to do 35 years ago.  If you don't do it right, we're going to hell." Then Cannick responds: "Note to Downey: Do not pass go. Do not collect $200 million. Go straight to hell where Satan is anxiously awaiting your arrival." Ouch.

But Cannick and some blacks are not the only ones upset with the film. Disability rights groups are also upset. Although the movie comes out today, there have already been protests and complaints about Ben Stiller's character satirizing a person with disabilities. And the chairman of the Special Olympics has urged moviegoers to boycott the movie. 

With all that negative attention, it's certain to drive interest in the film and could actually help to make it a hit.