Stiller Defends "Thunder"

(CBS)  Funny-man Ben Stiller says he understands why his new movie, "Tropic Thunder," is stirring controversy. But, he says, "It's a comedy" and, in essence, critics should lighten up.

The film's premiere drew protesters Monday, upset over its repeated use of the word "retard" in referring to the mentally challenged.

Others are offended by actor Robert Downey Jr. playing a white Hollywood legend who decides to accept a role as an African-American and uses blackface in that portrayal.

On The Early Show Thursday, Stiller, who stars in, co-wrote and directed "Thunder," was asked by co-anchor Harry Smith about the fire the film is drawing.

Still stuck up for it, saying, "My first response is it's a comedy. We're really making fun of ourselves. The whole movie is about actors and actors who try to do things to be taken seriously. So, in the context of the movie, I'm really comfortable that's how it comes off.

"Everybody, of course, is entitled to their opinion. When you make a movie, you have to kind of go with your gut. I feel like our heart is in the right place with it."

Stiller later added, "With any comedy, anything you put out there, some people are gonna get it. Some people are gonna be into it, and other people won't. But the movie, I've screened it so many times with audiences. It's fun to see audiences laugh. Everybody doesn't take it as seriously when you get outside of it and people talk about these issues. We all want to laugh at ourselves."

Tom Cruise has a small roll in "Thunder" and got a rave review from Stiller, who told Smith, "It's amazing. He's a really funny actor, and he doesn't get a chance to do comedies" too often.

To see the entire Stiller interview, click on the arrow in the image below:

[whiskyrokkr]

If someone would try to sue over using the work RET*ard than that will open up a whole can of worms. Of course the lawyers will love it.

[avigil2]

TROPIC THUNDER is the funniest movie I''ve seen all year long. It''s laugh-out-loud hilarious.

To pjones0495: you really need to lighten up. Get over yourself and take yourself to the movie theater. You just might come out with a big smile on your face.

[gurusavant]

is he a scientologist too? they keep all their major spiritualists (aka major financial contributors) secret. wonder why? the money must flow to and from some shady sources.

[liebchen21]

No doubt someone will try to sue him for "mental anguish" or "emotional distress"...

[beckypike]

Please keep in mind that if you happen to be in a car accident today, you could join the ranks of those with disabilities.

[beckypike]

I have been trying hard to understand the backlash to the protests of this movie.

Yes, freedom of speech (I guess even hate speech) is within our rights as Americans, but then it is also my right to protest and to say this movie offends me and my family. It is my right to try to get you to understand that you are insulting my son and others who are already discriminated against routinely. You may not say it as a direct insult, but even just hearing it as an insult hurled at someone who has done something stupid has touched my heart since my son was born.

If you''re not the one offended, it is easy to say "ha, it''s just a joke," or "it''s just a movie." I guess people are just angry because their good laugh is being ruined by their own conscience.

[whiskyrokkr]

It''s a movie. When they start telling people what kind of movies they can make than we are all in a lot of trouble. If you don''t like the story line than don''t watch it.

[toldyouso12]

"***" actually means slowed growth--so it is entirely appropos to many people with diminished or limited mental capacity. The actual word is not just used to describe a mental state, it is used to describe anything with slowed growth like "fire retardants" to *** a process is to slow it down. Unlike many racial and other negative expletives, the word was not coined as an insult but a description, that it was latched on to by some as an insult does not change the meaning of the word. ON the other hand, racial slurs or slurs against sexual orientation, or gender were words either invented to have derogatory meanings or given new meanings when used as slurs.

Retardation or slowed growth, in the truest sense is exactly what the name''s definition always meant--if you change or demand people stop using THAT word, they will simply adopt the latest description as being derogatory--hence the derision when one is thought to ride the "short bus".

[lucasnico]

most tards I have met are actually the happiest people alive, you seen em, there all smiling and happy, never expected to move out and get a job...act like kids there whole lives, not a bad deal,lol

Posted by cheddarboy82

you are a complete ***....lol!

[pjones0495]

Ben Stiller, let me explain to you in terms you might understand, how lighten up just doesn''t cut it. You are Jewish correct? Here''s a piece of history you might not know. Who do you think the gas chambers in WWII were used on, to test their effective on before they used them on Jews? Answer? People with Disabilities, including people with Developmental Disabilities. We were even more expendable than Jews! Freedom of speech? Wonderful concept, but what good is freedom of speech if you don''t have freedom. Right now, in this day and age, locked up in institutions (although they don''t call them that anymore, they call them ICFMR''s, or Training Centers, or other such bogus names)who don''t even have the right to come and go as they please, visit with friends, have friends visit with them, decide where to spend their own money and in many places, if you are under guardianship, you cannot vote! Can you do these things Ben Stiller? On top of All of that there is often times Physical, Verbal, Emotional, and Sexual abuse as well. Get over it? This is more than just a word! If all it was was just a word, we wouldn''t make this big of a deal of it. The problem is that this word has lead to hate crimes, and to the violation of the basic human rights that everyone else in this country can take for granted, including those who aren''t even legal citizens of this country, yet we are not always guarteed those same rights. We are the legal exception!