I haven’t found a book to recommend here lately. Oh, I’ve been reading…sort of…but nothing’s holding my attention. I can recommend a movie, depending on how you like your comedy—this one’s heavily dosed with satire. Tropic Thunder, starring Ben Stiller and Robert Downey, Jr. (whose acting I adore). It’s the story of a group of actors starring in a Vietnam war movie who are dropped into some real action in the jungle (drug trade related), but Stiller still thinks the movie is being shot (hidden cameras, yada). 
Yes, there is a running joke partway through that plays with political incorrectness, but overall the movie works (you know, I have to wonder if Stiller included the Sean Penn/Tom Hanks bits to detract from the potential controversy of Downey, Jr.’s character). (That’s Downey on the right).
The best performances? Robert Downey, Jr., naturally (yes, I’m a rabid fan, even during his drought), and Tom Cruise. Cruise has a small part in the film, but it’s definitely memorable and he plays it to the max. My Liege and I went to see the movie Wednesday night. That was my morning for the long dog walk (like today—I’m late getting going, and my dog is staring at me with huge brown eyes right now). After walking the dog Wednesday, I was stretching to Regis & Kelly (The View was over by the time I returned to the house), and Stiller was on. Regis blabbed which character in the movie is played by Cruise, so I was on the lookout. I told My Liege that Cruise was in the movie, and I thought he would recognize him, but the end of the movie arrived and he hadn’t picked him out. So now I’m cheesed that the ONE day of the week I catch ten minutes of Regis & Kelly post-dog walk is the day the news is blabbed. It would have been a lot more fun to watch the movie not knowing.
Anyone here seen the movie? Do you think Stiller went too far with the satire?
You know, I can’t believe I actually saw a movie on opening night. This is what happens when your children grow up. 🙂 And your husband has to miss his standing golf night due to a tournament. We actually had some couple time. Imagine that.
As for movies now opening on Wednesdays instead of Thursdays to “get a start” on the box office—what’s next, opening on Tuesday? Monday? Don’t they have to toss out all previous “opening weekend” box office counts now and start over?
When did the weekend ever begin on Thursday, anyway?
These and other questions will continue to go unanswered As Cindy’s Mind Churns.
We haven’t seen it yet – not even sure if it’s playing up here. We only have two theatres, each with one screen *g*. But it might be one we add to our Zip list 🙂
We saw Stiller on the Daily Show last night. Thanks for the recommendation!
Is a Zip list a good thing?
So sorry about the theatres. I used to live in a town with NO theatres. The video rental store did a thriving business and also made us pay a membership fee – because he knew he could. Dipweed.
OMG I want to see this movie! Unfortunately we have to wait until the grandparents become available to watch the kiddos. I like Ben Stiller and satire, so it should work out well for me.
I *think* (but do not know) that weekend box office still counts as just the three days, and that they compare a five-day opening against other five-day openings. They only do the extended opening for really big movies during the summer or holidays–because people are on vacation and it’s like a weekend.
I can’t wait to see this movie, being a rabid RDJr fan, myself.
Hi, Avery. I think you’ll love it. Heh heh on the waiting for the grandparents.
Natalie, thanks for the info about the opening weekends. Most appreciated.
Now that I’ve seen the movie, I’m back to say that no, I don’t think the satire was over-the-top. They played everything so straight, without winking at the audience or telegraphing any “aren’t we silly!”ness, which provided just the right balance. They came close, but didn’t go over. IMO.
Thanks for dropping back in, Natalie. I love hearing your viewpoints.