Ben Stiller’s “Tropic Thunder” examines what happens when a group of self-absorbed Hollywood A-listers go deep into the jungles of Southeast Asia to heighten the realism of the war movie they’re making — and end up getting more reality than they bargained for. It’s a big-budget war movie about a big-budget war movie. Here are the actors and the actors they portray.
BEN STILLER
1. Who he plays: Washed-up action superstar Tugg Speedman
More Top Picks Best Calming Lights For Autism Bedrooms
ROBERT DOWNEY JR.
2. Who he plays: Aussie Method actor Kirk Lazarus
NICK NOLTE
3. Who he plays: Grizzled Vietnam vet John “Four Leaf” Tayback, whose autobiography inspired the film-within-a-film
JACK BLACK
4. Who he plays: Jeff Portnoy, star of lowbrow comedy franchise “The Fatties”
BRANDON T. JACKSON
5. Who he plays: Rapper-actor Alpa Chino
JAY BARUCHEL
6. Who he plays: Rookie actor Kevin Sandusky