Not a total fan of Ben Stiller's Humoristic (artistic) role in Hollywood, this movie not only blew me away with the wise and satiric-like comments on over acting and Hollywood industry in general, but left me in Awe to the maturity of Stiller's work as a screen writer, actor and specially as Director.
During the filming of a Vietnam veteran memoir in Southeast Asia, the cast ensemble start behaving very much "actor like" in demanding unreasonable production details. They're already behind schedule, production's going poorly and waaay over budget. With the head on the chopping block, as in real life, the novice director struggles with the cast and crew as they are unable to be controlled and the Whip lashes down from production executives to get their act together ASAP! Determined to make the movie work, he drops the actors into the middle of the jungle, where he has installed many hidden cameras and special-effect explosions rigged so he can film "guerrilla-style". Apparently back on track, the actors manage to get attacked by a gang of local drug dealers, not realizing these aren't actors who are stalking them, with very real guns, very real explosions and in very real danger, fumbling into what they believe to be an elaborate hoax through the jungle.
Excellent cast call, with top notch acting performances by Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey, Jr., Brandon T. Jackson, Jay Baruchel, Nick Nolte, Tom Cruise, Danny McBride, Matthew McConaughey, Steve Coogan, and Bill Hader (amongst others). The story drops you in the middle of a real Hollywood production scenario, with tons of details to attend to and people to please in a massive up-to-date Blockbuster production.
Endearing characters help you locate rather easily the one you can identify with, and understand the frustration on a good work gone ballistic due to one Non-Team-player.
Great locations (most exteriors filmed Hawaiian island of Kauai), excellent photography, cool music and hilarious situations since minute 1, make this movie a must for comedy, action and human behavior.
Reluctant to invest my money in any Ben Stiller productions, I proudly admit I take it back, convinced that Stiller's notion of cinematography has greatly evolved since “Reality Bites”, having all these Big Named actors make a fool of what they might represent in the movie making industry, and taking that stereotype to limits that only comedy would.
I was persuaded on watching this feature by a good Danish friend who simply said, “You know Robert Downey Jr. plays a black guy, right? Man, he is Black!”
And you know you can’t go wrong with the caliber of Robert’s work! Even so, that he was nominated at the 81st Academy Awards for best supporting actor for his role as Kirk Lazarus. Downey lost to Heath Ledger for his take on Joker in Christopher Nolan's Batman Dark Knight.
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