Hola all. Massawyrm here.

February 20th, 1994. I don'’t remember her name, but I’ll never forget those eyes. Pale blue beneath tumbling blonde tresses. She was five foot nothing and we’'d met outside of the mosh pit of a White Zombie concert just weeks before. After several late night conversations we’'d agreed on a day for our first date. Dinner at my place followed by the movie of her choice. She chose a new film, out that weekend. Reality Bites. My filet mignon was excellent. The movie sucked balls. So awkward was the mood afterwards that we practically shot pool in silence. I never saw her again.

June 1996. I’'m not going to tell you her name. But her eyes, bright green tinted with the slightest shades of crazy. We'’d been together 4 months and she offered a trade. She'’d perform a feat of sword swallowing if she could pick the movie. It was payment after delivery, if you know what I’m saying. She chose The Cable Guy. Yeah. I never got that blowjob. It kind of fell apart a few weeks later. I still blame Ben Stiller.

September 25th, 2001. Knowing full well of the curse of Stiller on my love life, I convinced my fiancée to stay home while I went to this alone. I knew that no matter what I did or what I said, it would end as it always did. A somber, silent walk out of the theatre followed by a play free evening. I was not disappointed. But that fiancée later married me and is still with me today. Coincidence?

Now I usually try to avoid the biographical information when setting these up, but this is special. Me and Stiller have a history. He’'s a cinematic cockblocker whose movies drive me up the wall. At least the ones he writes or directs himself. Can'’t stand ‘em. So when I say that Tropic Thunder is the best thing he’'s ever done, understand that those aren’t easy words to type. And when I say it is the culmination of his entire career, finally achieving everything he'’s always grasped at and never quite achieved, you know this is something special.

It'’s not enough to say that Tropic Thunder is funny. It is a genius piece of satire that blissfully begins lobbing grenades at Hollywood culture as it charges over the hill to shove a bayonet right up its ass. Studio execs, agents, directors. Everyone gets a jab or two thrown their way. But the actors. Holy Christ, they’re barely even concealing who they’re making fun of. But at the same time, it is making fun of them all. The entire film is about what it is to be an actor in the system, while laying bare the egos that get created. It is positively scathing at times. And while self-aware Hollywood themed jokefests tend to only be funny to people in the industry, Stiller has found a way to transcend that and make this so god damned wacky that he accomplishes the satire whilst being able to sell it to a mainstream audience at the same time.

Everything Stiller has been working towards in his previous directorial efforts comes together perfectly here. Look at all three of his previous features. Each one was a socially aware parody of some segment of modern society, tinged with some strange over the top comedy that never quite gelled with the message. Each movie had a few good jokes. Hell, Stiller can be funny. But he was never able to get all the elements to work in complete harmony until now. Here everything just falls into place. The comedy is funny and sharp right off of the page – but the performances take it up to a completely different level.

Stiller is his classic over the top Stiller, only this time in a world that acknowledges that you’re not supposed to act or talk that way. Jack Black does what he does best and gets to take it to up a notch once things start getting weird. And Robert Downey Jr., I mean what can you say, it'’s the guy'’s year. He’'s brilliant and gets the role of a career here. But let’'s face it: you’re gonna read much more in depth pieces about these guys all over the place today. I want to talk about the guy that I feel was truly inspired, sublime casting. Jay Baruchel.

A world class cockblocker in his own right, Baruchel is cast as…himself. He'’s that down to earth actor who just can'’t catch a break, always doing great work while surrounded by much, much bigger names. You'’ll remember him as the one guy in the Apatow stable (most recently in Knocked Up) NOT to get a feature of his own. Or maybe as the kid Danger Barch in Million Dollar Baby, sandwiched in between Oscar winners Eastwood, Freeman and Swank. Or perhaps you recall him from the trailer to the seemingly never to be released Fanboys we’re always talking about. And here he'’s cast just as he has been in most movies. As a workhorse actor surrounded by gigantic stars. And really he’s the glue that holds the whole thing together. He'’s the straight man, surrounded by a pack of loons. And he performs admirably. But sadly will, once again (just as his character in the film) be relegated to ALSO APPEARING status.

And there’'s a subtle genius to casting him – the same kind of genius you find throughout the film. It is comedy in layers. Jokes within jokes. While this film can be watched by the average filmgoer, and be considered hilariously funny, the more film literate you are the funnier it becomes. Oh my god, there’re some bits of casting so scathing that it is unreal. Everyone’s talking about the secret studio head performance, but it was Jake Gyllenhaal that had me doubled over when he popped up.

No, unlike his rocky history, Stiller has really outdone himself. He has finally made that perfect comedy, that incredibly original social satire that fires on all cylinders and will be well regarded for years to come. He still owes me a first date and a blowjob, but I certainly won’t be rolling my eyes next time he’'s tapped to direct again. In fact, I might even take my wife. This comes Highly Recommended and is probably one of the smartest comedies you are bound to see all year.

Until next time friends, smoke ‘'em if ya got ‘em.
Massawyrm

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