Tropic Thunder:(Yet another) test to see if Ben Stiller is still funny
May 15th, 2008 by David Lee Simmons in Film
Seriously, when was the last time Ben Stiller was funny? Seems like ever since Jerry’s son appeared on “Inside the The Actors Studio” with James Lipton, his creative output has been, in a word, lame.
Personally, I’ve often found Stiller to be a little on the overrated side — he always seemed like a “total sum” kind of guy who was just funny enough of a comic actor, just funny enough of a comic writer and just funny enough as a director to keep himself busy and successful in the business. But Stiller hasn’t done much of note since 2001’s The Royal Tenenbaums, and that was in an ensemble performance. (Is it me, or is Stiller more effective playing the straight man in comedies?)
So 2008 should provide an interesting test for Stiller, who will serve up the comedy Tropic Thunder this summer. (Read more about this and other Summer Guide events that didn’t make the print edition of this week’s paper, in PopSmart.) Entertainment Weekly reports today that former “Daily Show” correspondent Rob Corrdry has signed on for Project A, produced by Stiller and scripted by Etan Coen. The latter helped out on the Tropic Thunder script that was developed by Stiller and Justin Theroux. Coen is a former “Beavis and Butthead” writer who also co-wrote “B&B’s” Mike Judge’s Idiocracy. (Eh.)
Do you think Stiller still has it? I remain dubious.
Here’s the trailer for Tropic Thunder (which opens Aug. 15). You tell me …
May 15th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Ever see ‘The Hustler of Money?’ In 1988 ‘Saturday Night Live’ did a parody of the ‘Color of Money’ trailer, with Stiller and Jon Mahoney in the Tom Cruise and Paul Newman roles — and bowling, not pool, as the game. Pretty funny (but nearly 20 years old). I’ve been looking for it on-line, but it’s gone from Youtube and doesn’t appear to be on Hulu.
May 15th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Yeah, I did. That’s a great example of Stiller being funny when he just goes for it, over-the-top type stuff. When I saw that parody I honestly didn’t know what to do it was so bizarre. Loved it.
So was Mahoney, a genius until he was ruined by all those years on “Frazier.” Ugh.