Tropic Blunder

I can't sit on the sidelines any longer. For the past few days I've been following the posts regarding Ben Stiller's new film, "Tropic Thunder." I have been a Ben Stiller fan for many years- "Zoolander" is an all-time personal favorite. I've even forgiven him for "Reality Bites." Deep sigh- he's gone too far now.

What a difference a diagnosis makes? Hun. Honestly, if this movie had come out a few years ago, I wouldn't be this upset. I would have remarked that all the "r" jokes are over the top and inappropriate, but I wouldn't have been prompted to write about it. Fast forward to 2008, I am now a parent of a special needs child, and my perspective has totally changed. Translation- I've grown up; Ben Stiller hasn't.

A comment on another blog has really got me thinking. An anonymous poster said that we parents are missing the point of the movie- Stiller isn't making fun of people with intellectual disabilities- he's making fun of stars who exploit those disabilities to earn acclaim and awards. Okay, that explanation works on one level. Sure, Stiller is making some commentary; Hollywood is guilty of making such films for years. But let's be real, he is also getting a cheap laugh. I doubt Stiller is only doing this "Simple Jack" character as a pure statement on Hollywood insipidness, shallowness, and greed. Even if this were the case, his character will not be interpreted in this manner. The legion of kids who will do "Simple Jack" impressions are not doing so as a metacognitive exercise. They could care less of the supposed moral compass commentary on contemporary cinema. They are doing "Simple Jack" impressions because they don't know any better. They are doing this impression because society has given them the ultimate green light to make fun of those who are different- a major motion picture is endorsing this behavior.

Let me anticipate and intercept criticism of my above statement- can an artist be responsible for how his/her art is interpreted and reproduced once the final product is out of his/her hands? Specifically, should Stiller be held accountable for all the "full-retard" jokes that will be bandied about for the next few months? Should he feel guilty for those "Simple Jack" t-shirts that will populate school hallways and shopping malls? Sure. He wrote it. He knows his audience is not completely comprised of film and literary scholars. Stiller did not make this 100 million dollar budget film to enlighten the cultural critics. This is not an art piece- far from it. Responsibility ultimately falls on the writer, director, and producer- of which Stiller is all three. Don't even try use post-modernism as a defense for Stiller. Any way you slice it, he is still attached to the jokes- especially since he is so integrated into the film and its production.

Is any major publication willing to make a stand on this issue? I just read the review in Rolling Stone- it was glowing. Not a single remark on inappropriateness. For such an open-minded publication, I was shocked to read the reviewer's statement about the "full-retard" joke belonging in a "comedy time capsule." HUGE disappointment!

But this is only my opinion- and you know what they say about opinions. . . Go see the movie if you want to; I am not going to stop anyone. Free country and all. Though I am pleased that people are protesting the release- another exercise of free speech! Comedy is my favorite genre. I really could have used a good laugh after such a hard summer, just not at the expense of my son. Know that Ben Stiller has lost a fan.