right on the heels of X-Files 2 (which, sad to say, still has to make its bow in local theaters), comes Tropic Thunder, a comic flick directed by Ben Stiller.

this funny movie is already garnering considerable attention from critics and moviegoers alike, despite some recent minor flap — hey this is the age of PC themes, remember? it stars ben stiller, robert downey, jack black, brandon jackson with hilarious cameos by tom cruise and nick nolte.

Tropic Thunder is about a group of self-absorbed Hollywood actors who signed on to do a war movie. after filming on location somewhere in the steaming jungles of South Asia — for authenticity — the cast (serious, action, comic and character actors) suddenly finds itself being confronted by armed local militias.

anyway here’s the official trailer…

some of this film’s highlights: robert downey, an aussie actor who tries to pass himself off as a black guy (he’s hilarious) complete with a killer accent; jack black does his usual insane routine; tom cruise swearing and dancing (yes he does!); and a black guy with an unlikely name of Alpa Chino.