Tropic Thunder (2008)

Here is a funny movie. A really funny movie that is almost too clever for it's own good. Ben Stiller's Tropic Thunder tells the story of a cast of a Vietnam movie who get thrust into reality and don't really know it, at first. While it is another movie about a movie, it still refreshingly portrayed.

The cast made up of Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr. and terrific supporting cast keep the film moving a clip pace. There are some terrific surprise performances that also pop up in the film, but I'll leave something for you to discover when you watch the movie.

The film has some bad language and comedic gore (what do expect in a film about the Vietnam War being made in present times?) There is no sex or nudity, which is suprising. Most of all there is Ben Stiller who wrote, directed, produced and stars in the film. Stiller plays the "Ben Stiller Character that he plays in virtually every film (except Zoolander) but that certainly is not a bad thing.

The film is so good that I have seen it twice. It is not often that I will pay twice to see a film while on it's theatrical release. It go stomped in the box office when it opened on against the Olympics, but it seems to be regaining it's ground. So grab yourself a can of Booty Sweat Energy Drink and enjoy the film.

(Rated R, 107 Minutes)

Pineapple Express (2008)

While I will shamefully admit that I found Superbad to be pretty darn funny, the same cannot be said for Pineapple Express. The movie takes us along with Dale Denton (Seth Rogen) who buys some "premium marijuana" then witnesses a murder and then gets followed by those involved in the murder. Dale's dealer (James Franco) also gets sucked in for the ride. The funniest character in the film is played by Danny McBride, who is also hilarious in Tropic Thunder. McBride is a drug dealing middleman with a lot of bad luck on his side.

Even if you enjoy movies about getting high on marijuana, you might find it hard to enjoy this film. Heck, even if you are high at the time of watching the movie, I can't say that you'd like it much.

This is another film out of producer Judd Apatow's group of regulars. It was co-written by Seth Rogen way back before he was in 40 Year Old Virgin and only got green-lit after his success in that film and Knocked Up. This is one script that should have just been passed over.

(Rated R, 111 Minutes)