A Twitter user asked Ben Stiller to stop apologizing for his 2008 comedy “Tropic Thunder,” to which the actor firmly responded that he never has and never will. Here’s his reply:
“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.”
It’s not like journalists haven’t tried to condemn “Tropic Thunder”. Take note of the bastshit crazy thinking that went into Robbie Collin’s 6.12.20 Telegraph essay, “Let’s Not Kid Ourselves — Tropic Thunder‘s blackface joke is no better than Bo’ Selecta.”
“Are we still allowed to laugh away unthinkingly at Tropic Thunder? Sorry, but no.”
Sure, let’s just cancel Robert Downey, Jr. and Ben Stiller for their twistedly hilarious satire, or, better yet, let’s just remove “Tropic Thunder” from all streaming services. That’s basically what Collins is saying here. Our culture is going in the wrong direction.
Every once in a while I try to remind people that a comedy like “Tropic Thunder” would just never get made today. Not in this heavily politicized world. Sure, go ahead and disagree with me, but remember in 2018 when athlete Shaun White dressed up as Stiller's Simple Jack character for Halloween and caused a total uproar, to the point where White had to issue an apology to the Special Olympics? This is real. This is the world we live in. Comedy is in dire straits at the moment.
“Tropic Thunder” in 2023 is a landmine of triggered outrage waiting to happen. If this movie came out today, and bless Paramount for having had the guts to release it 15 years ago, most would completely miss the point.
For example, Downey Jr's character in the film, Kirk Lazarus, doing blackface is a satirical take on method acting. It wasn't just played for laughs. It had a purpose. Sadly, these days, intent doesn't matter as much as perception. There isn't a firm line on what's funny and what's in poor taste anymore, but everyone loves to point out when they think that a line has been crossed.
Back in 2009, Downey Jr. got SAG, BAFTA and Oscar nominated for his blackface performance. You can definitely forget about that ever happening today.
Comedians like to push boundaries until that very fine line of what is deemed acceptable and unacceptable is somewhat squeezed to its very limit. That, to me, is what the very best of comedy can do. Regardless of the situation that we find ourselves in today when it comes to what can and cannot be said, which is primarily being lead by 'activists' on social media, a movie such as Ben Stiller's "Tropic Thunder" still existing in this maddening stratosphere, uncancelled, is almost a miraculous occurrence.
It’s now been 13 years since "The Grandmaster,” and it doesn’t sound like Wong Kar-wai will be making another film in the near future. His future seems to be on the small screen.