Self-Censorship During Tropic Thunder
Over the weekend I found the time to catch Tropic Thunder. The movie, which has come under fire for copious use of the “R” word (retard), contains several items which have people up in arms.
Among the “offensive” content produced by Ben Stiller and Co.:
African Americans – Black face, check
Mentally Challenged – Check
Kabuki-wearing Asians – Check
Women – The ‘P’ word is dropped by Alpa Chino – Check
My point is this. The movie made me bust a gut. There are several parts that are laugh-out-loud funny. But here’s the rub. Particularly during the “Simple Jack” scenes, when I really wanted to laugh hard, I stopped myself. Maybe it was the older folks around me, the fact that I was sitting two rows behind the wheelchair section, or some deep-rooted fear that a mentally challenged ogre is going to beat the hell out of me. Whatever the case, I made an effort to control my laughter as to not “offend” anyone.
Whoa! Time for some soul searching Andrew G.R. Here’s the pep talk I’m now giving myself:
Andrew, first off, you paid $10.50 to sit there on a Saturday night to enjoy yourself. Worrying about other people’s sensitivities, and in the process taking away from your good time, is asinine.Everyone who is sitting there has chosen to be there. If it’s a parent or an annoyed spouse, they did have the option to say ‘no.’ And let’s face it, it’s a freakin’ Ben Stiller movie. The trailer hardly tried to pass TT off as an epic war movie with Stiller looking to become the next Duvall. Even if you were ‘confused’ by the film’s promotion efforts, a three-second glance at B. Stiller’s body of work, you know damn well what you are getting yourself into.
I would never wish anything bad on anyone. I am the master of everything I say, do and think. A little laughter doesn’t hurt anybody. Escapism is essential for the soul and it’s important not to take yourself – or life – too seriously.
This isn’t the first movie to make fun of everything and everyone – and it won’t be the last. But it will be the last time I censor myself in a dark movie theater.
What do you think?