- Title: UK: The stars of Tropic Thunder attend the film's UK Premiere
- Date: 18th September 2008
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (SEPTEMBER 16, 2008) (REUTERS) PAN FROM PALM TREES TO CROWD AT TROPIC THUNDER PREMIERE PEOPLE AT BARRIER WITH TROPIC THUNDER POSTERS MODELS IN ARMY JEEP CAMERAMAN FILMING ACTOR JACK BLACK (LEFT) AND ACTOR/DIRECTOR BEN STILLER (RIGHT) ARRIVING AT PREMIERE (AUDIO OF FANS SHOUTING/SCREAMING) JACK BLACK SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS BEN STILLER SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS STILLER TALKING TO MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR/DIRECTOR BEN STILLER SAYING: "There's always a moment or two like that when you're making a movie and you're deep in it and you realise you can't go back. You I think there's sort of-- you live in denial for a while when things are like: 'Well, we'll see what happens,' but of course once you're in it, you're in it and there were time during the big action stuff when we had so much to do and we had so little time that it was a little bit daunting. It was really fun though."
- Embargoed: 3rd October 2008 13:00
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- Reuters ID: LVAA62EVW4611JRR3IKRMN9YUQV0
- Story Text: Robert Downey Jr, Ben Stiller and Jack Black tread the carpet in London. The stars of Tropic Thunder - Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black all took to the red carpet in London's Leicester Square for the film's UK premiere on Tuesday (September 16, 2008).
They were met by hundreds of screaming fans - without any of the protesters or advocacy groups that had picketed the movie's Los Angeles premiere. The protest groups were outraged over what they believed to be an offensive portrayal of people with intellectual disabilities. The groups also took offence to the repeated use of the term 'retard' in the film.
Actor Jack Black said the film doesn't marginalise anyone - with all groups being offended equally.
"I wasn't worried that we were going to hurt anybody's feelings, because we were hurting everybody's feelings - and as long as you hurt everybody then nobody is hurt right? That's the equation anyway," he explained.
More in the firing line from the film is Hollywood itself, as 'Tropic Thunder' takes a shot at the over inflated egos and prima donna behaviour of Tinsel Town's film industry. The movie revolves around a group of egotistical and insecure actors trying to make the best war film of all time - who soon find themselves in more more realistic circumstances than they'd bargained for.
The film includes an all star supporting cast, all satirising their own industry, including Steve Coogan as frazzled director, Matthew McConaughey as a conflicted agent, Nick Nolte as a crazed writer with a secret, and - in a surprise role - Tom Cruise as a bald, pudgy, tyrannical producer.
Tropic Thunder writer and star Ben Stiller said he didn't think his own fellow Hollywood stars and colleagues would be too offended by the spoof.
"Stupidly, no. I probably should worried more, but I think actors have a pretty good sense of humour about themselves... so at the end of the day I think it's a bloodless crime, we're going to make fun of Holly wood and everyone is going to laugh at themselves," he told Reuters Television.
Stiller, who also directed the action comedy, said the biggest action piece he has worked on from behind the camera made for an interesting experience.
"There's always a moment or two like that when you're making a movie and you're deep in it and you realise you can't go back. You I think there's sort of-- you live in denial for a while when things are like: 'Well, we'll see what happens,' but of course once you're in it, you're in it and there were time during the big action stuff when we had so much to do and we had so little time that it was a little bit daunting. It was really fun though," he said.
Robert Downey Jr, who has had something of a recent film comeback, first with the super-hero blockbuster 'Iron Man' and now with 'Tropic Thunder' which maintained a three week lead at the U.S. Box office, was enjoying the ride.
"It's weird. I honestly didn't think I'd be in Leicester Square with two movies that were performing so well, but you know whatever. Once in a while, you keep pulling the one armed bandit pretty soon you're going to get-- well now I'll say two gold bars," he said.
'Tropic Thunder' will open across the UK on Friday (September 19) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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