Summary
When someone begins listing their favorite comedy movies, it likely wouldn’t be a shock to what someone includes a mention ofTropic Thunder, especially thanks to Kirk Lazarus. Standing out as one of the funniest, most bizarre, and risky comedy films in recent memory for many,Tropic Thundertruly is a unique film. When it hit the scene in 2008, no one could have prepared themselves for Robert Downey Jr.’s massive rise to become the face of the MCU andthe definitive Iron Manafter taking on the role of Kirk Lazarus.
A lot has been said about the role over the years, but three things that are true are that Robert Downey’s portrayal of Kirk Lazarus was risky, provocative, and controversial. The stellar performance required to make Kirk Lazarus a beloved character ended up earning Robert Downey Jr. an Oscar nomination that some may not have agreed with. The biggest reason for all of the drama is that Downey’s performance as Kirk Lazarus had him portraying a character who took on the role of a black man, something that resulted in Kirk Lazarus changing the color of his skin.
Justin Theroux, Ben Stiller, Etan Cohen
Cast:
Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black, Steve Coogan, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride, Brandon T. Jackson, Bill Hader, Nick Nolte
107 minutes
$92 million
$195.7 million
Rotten Tomatoes Score:
82%
Fitting in with the rest ofTropic Thunder’scriticisms of elite Hollywood actors and their ridiculous moves, Kirk Lazarus is an Australian method actor with no fears of going too far. His previous method roles had affected him to a serious extent. Like Kirk Lazarus says inTropic Thunder:
“Same thing happened to me when I played Neil Armstrong in Moonshot. They found me in an alley in Burbank trying to re-enter the earth’s atmosphere in an old refrigerator box.”
To say he gets into his roles is an understatement and that’s why everyone loves him so much that he acts as a rival to another massive star of their time, Tugg Speedman. Seeing absolutely nothing wrong with it, Kirk Lazaruspoorly agrees to take on the roleof a black army sergeant named Lincoln Osiris, even getting surgery to change his skin color for the film.
From there, Kirk Lazarus deluded himself and got lost in his role to such an extent that he truly believed he was a black man and not a white man inappropriately playing a role. Upon realizing he and his fellow actors are intrue danger in the jungle, he attempts to lead them to safety all the while at odds with Tugg Speedman. At one point inTropic Thunder, Kirk Lazarus even points out the absurdity of his own character:
“I know who I am. I’m the dude playin' the dude, disguised as another dude!”
During the climax of the movie, Kirk Lazarus forgets who he is before one of his fellow actors is able to give him the pep talk required to get him up and back at their escape.
Michael Shannon
Revolutionary Road
Robert Downey Jr. was nominated for Best Supporting Actor during the81st Academy Awards, but he would end up losing that nomination to an actor who pulled off one of the most legendary comic book movie performances of all time. When it came time for the awards ceremony Kirk Lazarus just couldn’t quite stack up to The Joker, who was expertly performed by Heath Ledger inThe Dark Knight. While a lot of people who understand the nuanced excellence of Robert Downey Jr.’s performance may have been disappointed by him not getting the win, it is hard to argue with Heath Ledger’s win as he iswidely viewed as the best iteration of The Joker, with many even saying that was the role he was born to play.
The Controversial Nature Of Kirk Lazarus
There are a variety of controversial aspects to Kirk Lazarus, but the most controversial is the fact that the character is a white actor who darkens his skin in order to play the role of a black man in an over-the-top and stereotypical manner. With that in mind, it probably isn’t hard to understand why some people would view the role of Kirk Lazarus in a controversial light, something that wasn’t lost on Robert Downey Jr. orTropic Thunderwriter, director, and producer Ben Stiller.Despite how controversial the storylineand the role were, audiences around the world have loved the character of Kirk Lazarus, and it can even be argued as a major part of Robert Downey Jr.’s return to good graces among the public after a career mired with difficult issues.
The Washington Postreported on a Joe Rogan interview with Robert Downey Jr. in which Downey had this to say about the role of Kirk Lazarus:
“I thought: ‘Hold on, dude. Get real here. Where is your heart?’ ” he said earlier this month. “My heart is a) I get to be black for a summer in my mind, so there’s something in it for me. The other thing is I get to hold up to nature the insane, self-involved hypocrisy of artists and what they think they’re allowed to do on occasion.”
The character of Kirk Lazarus andthe intentions behind both Robert Downey Jr. and Ben Stillerhave been debated ever since the movie was released. There are many who believe that Downey taking the role was wrong no matter what, but there are others with a more nuanced approach to the outrage. While most agree with the critique of a white man playing a Black character, that was the entire point behind the role.Tropic Thunderis meant to be a satire of the state of Hollywood, with Kirk Lazarus and Tugg Speedman standing out as two of the worst that Hollywood has to offer. They’ll do anything and push any boundary to further their self-gain for their “art” no matter how wrong it may be. People aren’t supposed to appreciate Kirk Lazarus, they are supposed to laugh at his absurdity and even pity him, hoping that he can come out of the goofy movie with a better view of his role in the world.
Mark Ruffalo
Poor Things
Though his days as Kirk Lazarus seem to be long behind him (unless a sequel ends up happening), that doesn’t mean Robert Downey Jr. has finished giving stellar performances. He was recently nominated once again for Best Supporting Actor for the96th Academy Awardsfor his work inOppenheimer.Taking on the role of Lewis Strauss, Robert Downey Jr. gives one of the most brilliant performances of not only the movie but also his career. The difference in Downey’s nominated roles is stark, but if he ends up losing out that means that the comedic role of Kirk Lazarus is at least on the same level of excellence as Downey’s dramatic ability.
He’s got some stiff competition in the category, being nominated alongside the controversially nominated Ryan Gosling forhis performance as Ken inBarbie. The others nominated alongside them are Sterling K. Brown, Robert De Niro, and Mark Ruffalo, each earning their way to the show with stellar performances of their own. Only time will tell if Downey can finally come back from his Kirk Lazarus snub at the Oscars this year.
