I’ll be the first to admit that after hearing the premise of “Tropic Thunder” and then seeing the poster, there was no way I was going to be coerced into seeing this movie.

Not even for free.

But as the buzz grew more intense so did the validations that this was in fact a summer flick not to be missed.

Trust, it’s not. Ben Stiller channeled his inner Tyler Perry and not only wrote, directed and produced the film, but he’s one of the star’s, too, in this comedy about a cast of self-centered actors shooting the most expensive war movie ever made in the jungles of Southeast Asia. But after a series of screw-ups and escalating costs, the film’s funding is pulled.

The director, however, convinces the actors to stay on and finish this epic drama in another location—one in which the guys who are shooting at them aren’t really actors.
Not only has Stiller written a very funny film that spoofs just about every action/war film ever made, but he has also put together a stellar cast that includes Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black, Jay Baruchel, Brandon T. Jackson and Steve Coogan.

But it’s Downey, playing an accomplished Australian actor disguised as a black dude in the movie, who steals every frame of this flick. If it weren’t for the one-time Oscar nominee9 9s skills, the white dude in blackface stitch could have gone very wrong. But it’s hard to take offense at a white guy playing a black guy talking about how he’s going to “collard up some greens.” Or, when the same guy starts reciting the lyrics to “The Jeffersons’” theme song to make a point with the real brother (Jackson) in the cast.

Downey deserves an Oscar nod for his efforts.

Tom Cruise also sheds his action hero/corporate executive skin to play the studio head that shuts the production down. Even though he didn’t suddenly develop a suntan like Downey did, it takes a minute to recognize Cruise. He’s half bald and wearing padding. That look just adds to the hilarity when he gets his groove on to the rap tracks he plays in his office when no one is around.

I’d be remiss, however, if I ignored the performances of Stiller as the fading action hero who’s trying to hang on to a career that’s essentially gone bye-bye; and Black as the hot young comedy star with a substance abuse problem. And did I mention that Jackson plays a rapper named Alpa Chino who isn’t actually the man he appears to be.

Can you imagine? I bet not. That’s why you need to fly to the multiplex on Wednesday to see this one.