“I was shaken and a little traumatized”: Ben Stiller’s Insensitive Response After Jack Black Nearly Died in ‘Tropic Thunder’
The hilarious comedy Tropic Thunder, which recently celebrated its 15th anniversary, brought viewers on an exciting journey. The story of a film crew stuck in the Vietnamese jungle while filming a war movie is told in the movie, which turns disaster into comedy gold. Nevertheless, despite all the laughter, multi-talented cast member Jack Black encountered some genuine difficulties while filming. Jack Black, who is renowned for his musical prowess, acting skills, and comedic genius, found it challenging to film this specific movie.
Jack Black’s experience filming the movie was challenging
The renowned musician, actor, and comic Jack Black faced several difficulties while filming Tropic Thunder. Despite his admiration for his co-stars and the movie, he found the practical difficulties of filming this comedy to be a challenging experience. 2019 GQ YouTube video in which Black appeared and candidly stated that despite his initial expectations, filming in Hawaii was anything from simple.
He recalled the exhausting daily schedule, which included long jeep rides through harsh, isolated landscapes followed by rigorous scenes and mountain walks. Black could clearly recall instances in which he felt as though a death was coming. Even though it was difficult, he admitted that it was worthwhile because the movie ended up being quite hilarious and innovative.
Black was flung off the back of a water buffalo after one especially terrifying segment on set, leaving him terrified and traumatized. “Obviously, I was shaken and a little traumatized,” Black said. To make matters worse, the movie’s co-star and director Ben Stiller behaved insensitively by hardly regarding Black’s situation. Stiller advised him instead to get back on the water buffalo right away. Black expressed his wish to see Stiller in the same situation at some point. Jack Black jokingly said, “Yeah, I hope to have him half-naked strapped to a water buffalo someday.” Despite the unsettling experience, Black found humor in it.
Tropic Thunder was a highly controversial movie
Due to its controversial nature, the hit comedy Tropic Thunder caused quite a commotion. Robert Downey Jr.‘s portrayal of Kirk Lazarus, an Australian method actor who underwent a controversial skin pigmentation alteration to play an African-American soldier, was one of the main causes of disagreement. This portrayal was criticized by many for supporting racial stereotypes, which ignited a heated discussion. On The Joe Rogan Experience in 2020, Downey Jr. spoke about his blackface performance while defending his choice and insisting he had no regrets. He thought it gave him a chance to see things from a different perspective.
How Ben Stiller portrayed the character of “Simple Jack” was another issue with the film. Because they used abusive language, certain organizations that serve individuals with impairments became unhappy. However, Stiller and the writer of the film claimed they were making fun of performers who behaved in such a way to win Oscars. Robert Downey Jr. received nominations for prizes for his performance in the film despite the backlash.
Source: The Things
