Stiller talks about Tropic Thunder

Updated 11.38 Sat Sep 20 2008
Keywords: Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr, Jack Black, Tom Cruise, Tropic Thunder

Hollywood actor Ben Stiller directs and stars in the latest action-comedy Tropic Thunder.

In the film he plays actor Tugg Speedman who is disappointed that his previous portrayal of a mentally disabled character called Simple Jack failed to win critical acclaim.

In the film he plays actor Tugg Speedman who is disappointed that his previous portrayal of a mentally disabled character called Simple Jack failed to win critical acclaim

The movie spoofs Hollywood but many Americans have not seen the funny side of scenes which appear to mock the mentally disabled and show actor Robert Downey Jr 'blacked up'.

The plot centres on a group of pampered actors with huge egos who sign up to star in an action film about the Vietnam War.

The director instead drops them into a real danger zone, with only their fake weapons for protection.

Stiller, who wrote and directed the film as well as starring in it, joked that playing a big-headed star was "deep method acting".

But he admitted that much of the film had been based on an amalgam of real Hollywood characters.

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