Tropic Thunder to Make Blackface Funny

'Tropic Thunder', Ben Stiller's latest directing effort just opened.

Early reviews have pronounced it funny! As you may know, Robert Downey Jr. plays a white actor who takes a role originally written for a black actor and dyes his skin to play the role as a black man. Confusing? Yes. But there is method to his madness.

Downey Jr.'s character does all this in hopes of winning an Oscar. But it's all kind of zany so I wouldn't expect one in real life Iron Man.

'Zoolander' was great so while reading about 'Tropic Thunder' the first time I laughed out loud and felt queasy at the same time.

Race Role Reversals

Robert Downey Jr. in "Tropic Thunder"
Downey plays Kirk Lazarus, an Oscar winner who transforms into a black man to portray a Vietnam solder in this film within the film.

Robert Downey Jr. in "Tropic Thunder"
The Iron Man actor tells MTV that he owes the inspiration for the character to his director dad who made blaxploitation film nearly 40 years ago called "Putney Swope."

Ted Danson in Black Face
Back in 1993 Ted Danson appeared in blackface at a Friars Club roast in honor of his friend Whoopi Goldberg.

Ted Danson in White Face
Whoopi tried to silence his critics, saying tasteless, vulgar humor was expected at the roast. "I helped plan it!" she said.

C. Thomas Howell in "Soul Man"
Howell played a white student who used "tanning pills" to be black and win a minority Harvard Law scholarship.

C. Thomas Howell in "Soul Man"
The flick was the poorly received in black communities to say the least. Some today say it's classic, but during its release it came off as mockery to the hot issue of affirmative action.

Wayans Brothers in "White Chicks"
Shawn and Marlon Wayans play two FBI agents who do a race and gender bender to go undercover and foil a kidnapping plot.

Wayans Brothers in "White Chicks"
The Wayans brothers looked, well, gross as chicks. Please don't let there be a sequel or a "Black Chicks."

Eddie Murphy in "Coming To America"
Murphy employs one of his best characters in this comedy classic as Saul, the Jewish man in the barber shop. "What about Rocky Marciano?"

Eddie Murphy in "Coming To America"
Murphy is a master of disguise comedy. And Saul in the barbershop is one of the best race role reversals of them all.

From Entertainment Weekly Online:

If you don't recognize that African-American actor standing between Jack Black and Ben Stiller, there's a good reason: He's white. In Tropic Thunder, an epic action comedy co-written and directed by Stiller, Robert Downey Jr. plays Kirk Lazarus, a very serious Oscar-winning actor cast in the most expensive Vietnam War film ever. Problem is, Lazarus's character, Sgt. Osiris, was originally written as black. So Lazarus decides to dye his skin and play Osiris, um, authentically. Funny? Sure. Dangerous? That's an understatement. ''If it's done right, it could be the type of role you called Peter Sellers to do 35 years ago,'' Downey says. ''If you don't do it right, we're going to hell.''

Here's a favorite comment from various threads about 'Tropic Thunder':

James says: "...This is not Blackface. Blackface is a makeup style intended to demean us Black folks. With the over sized white lips and such. This is a white man in make up making him look black. There is nothing wrong here, at least judging by the still photo. I'm not a fan of Ben Stiller, so I'm sure there is content that would offend me if I actually see this movie. As far as Downey's role being funny, the original queation, has a lot to do with how the character is played. If it's played like Jimmy Walker in fatigues then I wouldn't find it funny at all."

The protest against 'Tropic Thunder' comes not from the Downey Jr's character but the fact that Stiller's character tosses around the offensive term "retard" to insult a character named "Simple Jack" and also uses it as generic term of derision. As one blogger points out, "It must have taken a lot of courage to make fun of people who can't fight back."

WILL YOU SEE TROPIC THUNDER?

Our Lens Sept. 1

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Omar Torres, AFP/ Getty Images

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Venus Williams of the United States reaches for a shot against Vera Dushevina of Russia during day one of the 2009 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 31, in Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.

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A Kenyan Muslim child reads verses from the Quran, Islam's holy book, on the fifth day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in a Madrassa (Religion School), in Nairobi, Kenya, Wednesday, Aug. 26. Muslims throughout the world are celebrating the holy month of Ramadan, where observants fast from dawn till dusk.

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Space Shuttle Discovery lifts off from launch pad 39-A at the Kennedy Space Center on August 28, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Discovery is scheduled for a 13-day mission to the International Space Station.

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Host Vanessa Williams performs with dancer Gilles Marini onstage at the 36th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards at The Orpheum Theatre on August 30, in Los Angeles, California.

Jesse Grant, WireImage

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Alberto Saiz, AP

Tom Wainaina recounts the events that lead to his being burned over most of his upper body August 26 in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya. Wainaina was burned by a group of men during post-election violence in Kenya's disputed 2007 presidential election. Ethnic-tribal violence left over 1,000 people dead. The non-governmental organization (NGO) Concern, in cooperation with local Kenyan groups, has launched a campaign to provide the urban poor with cash grants to start a business or get back on their feet after suffering disproportionately from post-election violence in 2007. The money is transferred to the recipients via a mobile phone which insures a safe and simple financial transaction to customers who don?t have bank accounts. Wainaina is one of dozens of Kibera residents to receive the assistance of a cash grant. Hairdressers, grocery stores and food vendors are just some of the businesses that have been financed through the program.

Spencer Platt, Getty Images

People standing near the grave of Senator Robert F. Kennedy (D-NY) look at the grave of Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) at Arlington National Cemetery August 30, in Arlington, Virginia. Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) was buried yesterday next to his brothers President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy (D-NY) after he died of brain cancer on August 25.

Brendan Smialowski, Getty Images

US President Barack Obama takes out his daughters Malia (R) and Sasha (2nd L) and niece Suhaila Ng (L) to shop in the Alleys general store on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, on August 30, 2009.

Jewel Samad, AFP/ Getty Images

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