Tropic Thunder is a movie that has courted controversy thanks predominantly to its use of blackface, accusations of anti-semitism and its portrayal of disabled people. However, many of its stars and production team have always stood by the movie, and writer Justin Theroux is no different. While speaking to Newsweek about his new HBO show White House Plumbers, the subject of Tropic Thunder came up and Theroux explained how he has never seen it as hugely controversial due to who the film really makes fun of.
Like many comedy movies with some potentially offensive elements, there is a context that is often missed around the reason for some of those elements being in the movie at all. Theroux alluded to this when addressing his feelings about the film 15 years after its original release. He said:
“I would hate to think we're entering a zone where you can't make anything. You know what I mean? 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.”
Robert Downey Jr. gave a memorable performance as Kirk Lazarus in Tropic Thunder, a character who was so intent on playing an African-American man in the “movie” he is shooting that he undergoes “pigmentation alteration” surgery to appear as the ‘dude, playing a dude, disguised as another dude.” It was in fact so memorable that Downey Jr. was given an Oscar nomination.
Ben Stiller Previously Said He Is Proud of Starring In Tropic Thunder.
As a movie that includes an all-star cast, a bonkers Tom Cruise cameo and holds a respectable 82% approval rating from Rotten Tomatoes critics, Tropic Thunder is a movie that may have its problematic aspects, but also has a lot of fans. Among those who are still happy to stand by the movie’s place in history is Ben Stiller, who starred in and directed the movie.
When a fan of the movie asked Stiller to stop apologizing for making the movie, Stiller responded by saying that he has never said that he is sorry for Tropic Thunder existing and he is still proud to have been part of it. He said back in February:
“I make no apologies for Tropic Thunder. Don’t know who told you that. It’s always been a controversial movies since we opened. Proud of it and the work everyone did on it.”
The continued debate over what movie could and couldn’t be made in the current Hollywood climate is something that is always pulling in new movies to be picked apart and “canceled.” However, recently there has been something of a push-back from those involved in the making of many of these projects, who are no longer happy to denounce their old work because some take offense over aspects of it.