This pretty much takes a swipe at the whole cinema experience starting with the exuberant trails that make every film look like a potential award winning extravaganza through to the main feature - a parody that clashes “Platoon” (1986) with “Predator” (1987) and adds a mix of “Good Morning, Vietnam!” (1987) for good measure, too! Superstar action star “Tugg” (Ben Stiller) has made a couple of stinkers lately and so his agent (Matthew McConaughey) has sent him to join a testosterone-charged cast to star in a jungle warfare film being directed by British newbie “Damien” (Steve Coogan). Pretty swiftly the tub-thumping is causing consternation as he; rude-boy comic actor “Portnoy” (Jack Black) and the action hero “Lazarus” (Robert Downey Jnr.) are strutting like peacocks whilst the director struggles to impose himself. Or - does he? No sooner are they deep amongst the foliage than “Damien” declares that there are hidden cameras and booby traps all over the place, and that these pampered and egotistical prima donnas are actually going to have to get their hands and their freshly ironed combat fatigues dirty. Sadly, his enthusiasm soon falls foul of something the French had left behind and then the woes of these gents starts to accumulate. You see, there are real drug dealers here and they don’t want visitors - especially those who look like they are armed to the teeth. Goaded on by a couple of fairly ruthless children with ninja skills, the baddies set out to eradicate their visitors and so mettle is going to be tested, loyalties challenged and just about everything that can explode will explode - offering the stuntmen a chance to risk life and limb and for Heinz to make a fortune in ketchup sales. There is a fun chemistry here between Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jnr., Jack Black hams up the vulgarity quite entertainingly and the lively and pithy style of the writing really does quite brutally ridicule this style of gung-ho American action feature. It even manages to have a go at award ceremonies too, and all of that gushing celebration whilst at the same time the losers can’t wait to stick a knife in your back - cue Jon Voight. This is my favourite Stiller film and it has held together well with much of the humour seeming just as apposite now as it did then.
