Tropic Thunder: Jack Black Attacks Your Senses

Posted by Robert Fure (robert@filmschoolrejects.com) on August 11, 2008

Jack Black has come a long way in his more than 15 years in the business, from that guy in the background of a few scenes to one of the top comedy performers in the world. He looks to remind you why he belongs at the top with some awe inspiring scenes performed half-nude in Tropic Thunder. His fake trailers for The Fatties does a fun job of lampooning both the actor and the sadder states of modern comedy. By the time my table got a chance to speak with Black, the long day of press hounding had left him noticeably tired, but within moments he was the lovable and hilarious guy we all expected.

This script makes me laugh. All the characters. I don’t even know that its my character that made me laugh the most when I read it.

That’s how Jack Black described the script that he took a pay-cut for. Pretty much the best reason to take a comedic role, one would think. He also said there was no way he couldn’t take this role, with the hilarious script and amazing co-stars.

With the blond hair that almost never happened nearly grown out, Black retold the tale of how Ben Stiller pushed for him to have the cropped and bleached cut that is alarmingly different for the comedian. Giving in, the look grew on Black, who had fun on set, both in sticking to the riot of a script, but also doing improvised scenes to keep it fresh and fun.

I would say, of all of us, Robert Downey was the one who’s going off the rails on the crazy train.

On his co-stars, Black was not afraid of laying the praise, and some good natured ribbing, on Downey and Stiller. When it came to directing, JB had nothing but the kindest of words for Stiller, calling him the ultimate actor’s director and saying that he really understood what it was that let other actors find their comedic groove, no matter how many takes they needed. As for Downey, Black described one of the most valuable lessons he learned from RDJ’s performance:

If I learned something I guess its just that you don’t have to get too bogged down with diction. Mumble your way to an Oscar, it works every time.

He went on to liken the all-male cast, “an absolute sausage fest,” to the all-chick cast of Charlie’s Angels, indicating that he enjoyed that film, so people will enjoy this one. He noted females also enjoyed 300 because of all the muscles, so if they come to the Tropic Thunder “brodeo” they’ll get treated to “this.” Now, for you to get the full effect of that statement, you’d have to be there. But just close your eyes and imagine Jack Black sensuously caressing his own chest and you’re in the right ballpark.

[on the difficulties of filming] … and then you get there and it’s swampy and I’m in my underpants and there’s fucking mosquitoes and you’re wearing bug spray everywhere and they’re telling you climb up on this fucking water buffalo that might kill you and all kinds of shit that was not pleasant. But we got some beautiful, you know, locations, and stuff looked pretty great. Looked very much like Vietnam, so that was cool.

The rest of the time was spent talking about his upcoming projects, which we’ll fill you in on very shortly, if they’re not already up on the site.

Check out a mostly naked, underwear clad Jack Black in Tropic Thunder on August 13th.

Read more articles by Robert Fure