Ben Stiller is less famous as a director than an actor.  But 2 of his previous directed efforts ZOOLANDER and THE CABLE GUY has proven his prowess with comedic material, especially after acting the Farrelly Brothers in their arguably funniest comedy THERES’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY.

TROPIC THUNDER finds Stiller in top form spoofing action flicks from APOCALYPSE NOW to RAMBO.  Probably from his wide influence in Hollywood, he has assembled a fine cast of top notch actors who seems to be in competition on who can be the goofiest in the goofiest of spoofs.  The cast includes Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black, Steve Coogan, Danny McBride, Matthew McConaughey and countless others.  The award for the funniest guy goes hands down to a barely recognizable Tom Cruise in his funniest role since his couch jumping performance on Oprah.

The story involves a group of actors led by Tugg Speedman (Stiller) surviving a Mandarin speaking Vietcong by following the script in the movie they were supposed to be in.  Trouble is that none of the actors have read the script.  That is, none except the geekiest Kevin (Canadian Jay Burachel).  Stiller spoofs dozens of action flicks while providing a so-called escape by the actors.

The film works primarily because director/writer Stiller and co-writer Justin Theroux know and have done their homework on action flicks.  Stiller often gets every movement, every frame and every shot done just like a clichéd actioner.  Even the music by Theodore Shapiro is near action-type perfect.  The laughs and action come fast and furious as do the plot points.

Though not the funniest movie of the year, TROPIC THUNDER is still one of the best spoofs to hit the screen.  One observation is that the noticeable absence of women in the movie.  And make sure you sit through to the very end for the last joke that comes after the last credits roll off the screen.