Discuss: Tom Cruise is Freakin' Hilarious in 'Tropic Thunder'
Self-serious superstar Tom Cruise pops up (nearly unrecognizably) in a supporting role in Ben Stiller's new comedy Tropic Thunder. Not much has been made of the performance in the press, but I for one think it represents a brilliant new land of opportunity for Mr. Cruise. Nothing makes a guy 'accessible' like a foul-mouthed and very funny performance in a surprisingly good comedy -- and all of those things apply here. I've always been pretty ambivalent about Tom Cruise -- I think he's an underrated actor and an overrated movie star -- but this is the first time he really "amazed" me since his shockingly raunchy (and quite excellent) performance in Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia.At first I didn't even recognize Cruise in the film. I'd heard it mentioned that the actor had a supporting part in the flick, but I suppose I'd forgotten about it. When Cruise's character (a sleazy studio head called Les Grossman) first appeared on-screen, I was just sure it was a character actor named Enrico Colantoni. Not only because of the shocking resemblance -- but mainly because the guy playing the studio chief is drop-dead freakin' hilarious. The fact that I mistook Tom Cruise for Enrico Colantoni is a rather large compliment -- to Tom Cruise.
Coated with a bald-cap, a fat suit, and a thicket of wiry arm hair, Cruise powers through his scenes (mostly with Bill Hader and Matthew McConaughey) with tons of vulgarity, strangeness, and dancing. Yes, dancing. Frankly we've never seen Tom Cruise let his hair down in this wacky a fashion, and I'd like to thank Ben Stiller for making it happen. (When he's just an actor, Stiller's output can be distressingly inconsistent, but as a writer / director he's simply a lot more reliable. And infinitely funnier.)
So that's the discussion point for today: What did you think of Tom Cruise's work in Tropic Thunder? I'd see the flick again just for his X-rated telephone tirades. Bonus Topic: As amusing is he is, Cruise isn't even the funniest guy in the flick. That honor would go to Robert Downey Jr., who has earned himself one stellar summer of redemption. Good for you, Rob!
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Reader Comments
(Page 1)2. Funny, Chad, I was wildly amused and a little creeped out by it. I thought it was great, though. And I don't like Tom Cruise.
Posted at 1:02PM on Aug 17th 2008 by Robin
3. Tom's performance was absolutely hilarious and I am sure that he went into the role with a bit of familiarity with the character.
Posted at 1:10PM on Aug 17th 2008 by Smartguy
4. Tom Cruise is a great actor and he was hliarious in Tropic thunder -- in fact, he Downey Jr and McConaughey are the only good things in the movie.
I myself preferred Pineapple Express which was HILARIOUS.
Posted at 1:34PM on Aug 17th 2008 by jake
5. I think the role was the absolute best career move the man could have made at this point. It reminded average laughing Joe that Tom Cruise works wonders on the big screen, that the guy isn't just a Scientology wackjob.
Posted at 1:39PM on Aug 17th 2008 by Peter Hall
6. He was really funny in Tropic Thunder but he was waaaaay funnier in Magnolia and that performance was just better because there were also really serious elements to it.
"If that dog comes near me I am going to fucking drop kick it."
Posted at 1:43PM on Aug 17th 2008 by Jack K.
7. What is funny about constantly saying "Go f yourself?" What is funny about a white dude in a fat suit dancing to hip-hop in 2008?
Posted at 2:19PM on Aug 17th 2008 by Joe
8. I think what was so funny about about a white guy in a fat suit (how you put it) is not so much that he's a white guy but that he's Tom Cruise whose considered a serious actor. He never does a part that would make him look like less than a hero (in the past). I felt that he was an actor that is really good but really didn't have much personality in the past. This just opened a new door for him I believe. Whereas his last few films flopped, people see a new side that he is willing to take some chance roles and can be funny. I couldn't stop laughing. The whole movie was great in my opinion and everyone had some pretty funny lines. I was just surprised to see Tom Cruise dancing and listening to some unedited rap music, dancing on beat. Funny stuff.
Posted at 4:24PM on Sep 6th 2008 by Jackie
9. He was horrible. He took what could have been a funny character and Cruised-it. His inability to change his voice and body language resulted in every scene feeling like Tom Cruise in an old-guy-suit. Put a real character actor in the sequences and it would have been funny. With Cruise it's just a star reminding the world he has zero range....he can only be himself.
The movie suffered because of his presence.
Posted at 2:33PM on Aug 17th 2008 by YouFaceTheTick
10. I thought he was FUNNY! I didn't realize it was him until halfway through the movie...I didn't know he could dance like that!!!!
Posted at 2:46PM on Aug 17th 2008 by Laura
11. I still won't see it just because that freaking psycho is in it.
If you ignore him, he will go away
Posted at 3:40PM on Aug 17th 2008 by Matt
12. I thought the movie as a whole was disappointing, but Tom Cruise was brilliant. He was absolutely hilarious, and definitely the best part of the movie (even better than Robert Downey Jr.'s sadly overhyped Kirk Lazarus). Exactly the right thing for him to have done to try and get his career back on track.
Posted at 3:54PM on Aug 17th 2008 by AJ Wiley
13. Black's declaration of what he would do to get untied was the top of the film. I won't give it away anymore than that, because that's too good a spoiler.
And Cruise's little dance at the end had me rolling as well.
And I definitely think his character was based on a real person, whether as written or as Cruise interpreted it.
And I don't care for the man myself because of his antics.
Posted at 4:04PM on Aug 17th 2008 by Bryan Price
14. ^^^^^ some people take famous people far too seriously!!!
Not seen it yet, but intend to when it comes out.
I never minded Tom Cruise, and still don't - but I'm able to separate a good actor from a media target (I don't read those sort of magazines) so maybe I'm lucky like that.
Posted at 4:07PM on Aug 17th 2008 by LordPaul
15. I thought it was over-hyped, myself. His dance was nothing special. And personally, I am so tired of white guys doing hip hop to "look cool". It's lame.
What really surprised me is that you think he looks like Veronica Mars dad. What an insult to a fine actor.
The next role Cruise should sign up for is a Batman villain. He's good at playing crazy.
Posted at 4:07PM on Aug 17th 2008 by John S
16. I think you need to go back and re-read another article on Tropic Thunder. It was about idiots who don't get satire.
The whole point of this scene is poking fun at white guys who do use hop hop as a way of looking cool, they agree with you. Jeez, it really ain't that difficult.
You should try and get this movie banned for being offensive to blacks.
Posted at 5:55PM on Aug 17th 2008 by Gary
17. I liked Tropic Thunder a lot, but, I found Tom Cruise's character to be incredibly grating.
There seemed to be far too much of a "wink, wink, look at me, I'm Tom Cruise being naughty" thing going on.
Posted at 4:36PM on Aug 17th 2008 by Slappy
18. I saw and thoroughly enjoyed 'Tropic Thunder.'
I knew it was Tom Cruise right away because I read that he has a 'cameo' and was barely recognizable.
I thought that he was a scream, parodying some studio exec; the portrayal was enough to make me wonder just who is he aping? And did that person see the portrayal? What was the reaction? Did s/he have any input?
Oh, and to the poster of the following:
'And personally, I am so tired of white guys doing hip hop to "look cool". It's lame.'
I think that's the intent > not as lame as Karl Rove and other republicans rapping (look it up on YouTube > it will make you cringe) > but a testament to the target's ego.
Either he was laughing hysterically, or he went into a fiery tirade against Cruise for the portrayal. I hope that makes it to the DVD so RDjr, can drop character.
-PK
Posted at 5:01PM on Aug 17th 2008 by Peter C. Krieger
19. Cruise was doing a Simple Jack. It was a self-indulgent role where he didn't have to interact with anyone. His fat suit and body hair and skull cap were his wheelchair, so to speak. His character, like Dustin Hoffman in Rainman, isn't affected by anyone around him.
Funny how a movie that makes fun of those solipsistic roles can still provide one for a fading star to sink his gleaming teeth into.
Posted at 5:07PM on Aug 17th 2008 by RJ
20. Your post about Cruise trying to use his fat suit is right on the money. It was sloppy, poorly done and the weakest part of the film. I'm not even a Black fan but i'll take his bit tied to a tree over anything Cruise did in the whole film.
Posted at 6:52PM on Aug 17th 2008 by YouFaceTheTick
1. Not much has been made of the performance in the press? Are you kidding? They are having a field day with it.
I myself thought it was embarrassing, much more so than anything he ever could have done on Oprah's couch. And I love Tom Cruise.
Posted at 12:46PM on Aug 17th 2008 by Chad