Boycott Against "Tropic Thunder" Happening Monday

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Boycott Against "Tropic Thunder" Happening Monday

Written by Arya Ponto

Monday, 11 August 2008

Update: The protest happened.

Tropic Thunder is catching heat two days before its release. The New York Times ran a story about a coalition of more than a dozen disabilities groups—including the National Down Syndrome Congress and the American Association of People with Disabilities—planning on calling a nationwide boycott of Ben Stiller's new movie. There are also plans to picket the movie's premiere on Monday evening in LA. The problem came up because of a scene between Stiller and Robert Downey, Jr. in which the word "retard" is liberally used.

“Not only might it happen, it will happen,” Timothy P. Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics, said of the expected push for a boycott.

In the Stiller-directed Hollywood satire, the character he plays is an action star who attempted to score an Oscar by playing a mentally handicapped farmboy in the fake movie Simple Jack. In one hilarious scene, Stiller's character consults Downey Jr.'s five-time Oscar winner on the role, in which Downey tells Stiller to "Never go full retard," citing Sean Penn's I Am Sam as a cautionary tale. Some people apparently consider the exchange a "hate speech."

Although the film has been screening since April and the scene in question was featured in the red band trailer, the controversy only started last week when Simple Jack's viral website caught the attention of disability news journalist. The now-defunct site had a poster (pictured) for the fictional film that used the tagline, "Once upon a time there was a retard..." After the outrage, DreamWorks had taken the website down and excised references to Simple Jack from television advertising, but they are refusing to perform any censorship to the actual movie (not that it'd be feasible, two days away from release date).

In a statement on Sunday, Chip Sullivan, a DreamWorks spokesman, said the movie was “an R-rated comedy that satirizes Hollywood and its excesses and makes its point by featuring inappropriate and over-the-top characters in ridiculous situations.” Mr. Sullivan, in the statement, added that the film was not meant to disparage or harm people with disabilities and that DreamWorks expected to work closely with disability groups in the future. But, he said, “No changes or cuts to the film will be made.”

Bravo. Never let a mob intimidate and bully their way into censorship. Let's be honest here, this is a movie lampooning Hollywood and Hollywood actors who would exploit stereotypes for personal glory. If it's not offending anyone, then it's not doing its job correctly. These groups should really be more offended by movies like Radio and The Other Sister than a comedy that points out the insensitivity of those movies. Whose side are you on, really?

With its previous unpleasant brushes over Downey Jr.'s "blackface" performance and now this, could Tropic Thunder be the controversial movie of 2008?

August 11, 2008, pita said:

:0 Okay so maybe if they did watch how they express their words then its alright. COME-ON now FGS its a movie!! There are tons of movies out their that always relates to someones life, who,what,when,where?? :silly: Who knows and speaking for myself I don't really care and probably manymore feel the same. :evil:

Votes: +0

August 11, 2008, Tyler Barlass said:

It's publicity no matter how you look at it.

Votes: +0

August 11, 2008, Unknown said:

Hey, in my opinion, it's funny. I think they wanted that sort of reaction to the movie, I would. Besides, what are a bunch of retards going to do to stop a movie?

Votes: +0