Ben Stiller: NOT FUNNY

I just want to get this off my chest: Ben Stiller is not funny.

I was astounded to read the countless reviews of the recently released Tropic Thunder, a product of Stiller's, not only because they were generally praiseful, but that many seem to regard Stiller of something of a comic genius, up there with the greats.

Ben Stiller has never been funny.

His comic spark comes from being the 'normal guy.' He is the 'normal guy' who is only funny because of his reactions to the surrounding chaos and comedy in the same way that David Spade was funny as being the "normal guy" next to the inanity of Chris Farley, although Spade is far more talented than Stiller.

All of Stiller's supposed comic peaks (think: eying semen in Cameron Diaz' hair, taking Robert De Niro's over-the-top lie-detector test) have involved Stiller trying to stay straight faced, cool, i.e. 'normal' in the face of unbelievable sillyness. His proximity to other comic talents tricks people into thinking he, in fact, is funny. But being normal isn't funny. That's just normal.

And I know people always say, "But what about Zoolander? What about Zoolander?" To these people I say: if you really think carefully about the movie, you'll realize that his character was funny, not Stiller himself. Stiller isn't capable of anything explicitly funny.

If you desire further proof go watch Tropic Thunder, which was co-written and directed by Stiller. Aside from the cameos by Tom Cruise, and a few other quick laughs, the movie was pretty bad. Watching it was an interesting peek into Stiller's chronically unfunny mind.

First off, it was incredibly self-indulgent. Just because it's 'making fun' of Hollywood, it's still about Hollywood and is thus a vehicle for these same actors to carry out their bloated caricatures yet again. But whatever.

The supposed comic climax comes in a scene when Robert Downey Jr. (who rather pointlessly plays a black man) explains to Ben Stiller the merits of playing a "retard" in Hollywood while repeating the word over and over.

I can just see Stiller, sitting up in his Unfunny Throne thinking "hmm, yeah, kids say 'retard' these days; that's the lingo. That's it! I'll totally use that in my movie and that will make it funny, and it will prove I'm still down." Well, Ben, it was incredibly unfunny and it felt very forced. If Downey can't even make it funny, then you suck.

Anyhow, I could talk more about the movie, but I won't...

As Stiller ages, I predict he will go to further lengths to stay in the comedic spotlight. He clearly needs, personally, to be in this spotlight.

This is one fall from grace that's not going to be pretty to watch...nor funny.