‘Tropic Thunder’ - ‘Full Metal’ hilarity

Ben Stiller gets plenty of props for being a box office draw, but few people cut him much slack for his directorial efforts.

That’s a shame since “The Cable Guy” got a bum rap, and Stiller’s “Zoolander” has emerged as a minor comic classic.

Now’s he’s dropped himself into the very big leagues with “Tropic Thunder,” a big-budget, bigger cast comedy which he directed, co-wrote and stars in.

He plays Tugg Speedman, a vain actor (redundant?) who’s shooting a Vietnam War film on location. Tugg and the cast think it’s all a glorified Hollywood set, but the film’s desperate director (Steve Coogan) deposits the cast in an actual hot spot to keep the actors in line.

Calamity follows, and the actors (Jack Black and Robert Downey, Jr. among them) must fend for themselves if they ever want to return home in one piece.

Hollywood loves insider parodies, but this is one comic tale that people who don’t live and die by the next issue of Variety can appreciate. The cheeky cameos help. Matthew McConaughey keeps his shirt on but otherwise feels right at home as Tugg’s morally challenged agent. And Tom Cruise’s well reported appearance is nearly as good as presold. Cruise plays a maniacal studio executive who barrels over anything in his path. It’s precisely the kind of role he needs to restore his good name.

Or at least kick start the process.

“Thunder’s” humor takes the kitchen sink approach, wallowing in silliness in between fits of inspiration. The latter mostly comes courtesy of Downey, Jr. He plays an Aussie Oscar winner who artificially darkens his skin to play a black soldier. It’s the ultimate acting challenge, he figures.

The role would crumble in lesser hands, but the erstwhile “Iron Man” is fully in character - and uniformly hilarious - without ever stepping over the stereotype line. He’s the butt of his own joke.

So, too, is Tugg thanks to a movie within a movie named “Simple Jack,” even if it’s not executed as smoothly as Downey, Jr.’s storyline.

“Tropic Thunder” is drawing fire from special interest groups for the latter and its frequent use of the word “retard,” but discerning audiences will know where the humor is targeted. And they’ll be laughing too hard to take offense.

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(Photo: “Tropic Thunder” finds Ben Stiller, far left, leading a group of actors into enemy territory to shoot a movie. Photo credit: Merie Weismiller Wallace)