Tropic Thunder

I saw the new Ben Stiller/Jack Black/Robert Downey Jr comedy/action/adventure/war movie, Tropic Thunder on Wednesday night. Personally, I thought it was hilarious!! I haven't laughed that hard in a Ben Stiller movie since Zoolander. After the movie, my fiance and I spent the night debating whether Tropic Thunder was the greatest spoof movie of all time.

However, despite the brilliance of Stiller's hollywood satire (no part of the film industry is safe from Stiller's harsh portrayal), Tim Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics, is in the process of organizing a nationwide boycott of the film.

Tim Shriver claims that what I thought was some of the funniest dialogue in the movie amounts to little more than hate speech. New York Times reviewer, Manohla Dargis (with whom I rarely agree), accuses Tropic Thunder for being primarily anti-semitic.

Political satire is one of the - if not the - most highly protected form of speech (as protected by the 1st Amendment). People have to be able to challenge and mock institutions of power. To attempt to silence political satire is un-American.

Note: for the history of parody & satire + the 1st Amendment, check out: http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/Speech/arts/topic.aspx?topic=parody_satire

Satire will by its very nature upset and offend many people. You don't have to like the movie, but it makes a powerful statement about the absurdity of the film industry. Appreciate it for what it is ...