Who are they making fun of? The final script was developed to satirize Vietnam War films such as Apocalypse Now, Platoon, Full Metal Jacket, Hamburger Hill, and The Deer Hunter. Intertextuality- reference to another media text Stiller wanted to make a film based on the actors he knew who, after taking part in boot camps to prepare for war film roles, became "self-important" and "self-involved" and appeared to believe they had been part of a real military unit.

Al Jolson Robert Downey Jr. Billy Crystal The Jazz Singer The Oscars 1927 Robert Downey Jr. Tropic Thunder 2008 Billy Crystal The Oscars 2012 Overtly racist (intended to dehumanize/mark black people as inferior) Portrayal based on harmful stereotypes of black people Yes Evokes an oppressive history associated with the practice of blackface Provides a meta-commentary that critiques blackface as problematic Acknowledges poor diversity or poor representation of black people in Hollywood No

Critical Acclaim "It's so funny to me that the role is a guy who is an Oscar-seeking moron. His whole motivation is Oscars ... Irony is synonymous with pretty much everything that is going on." —Downey reacting to his Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Kirk Lazarus.[109]

Quiz: Define Shots