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'Retard' Wars Heat Up as 'Tropic Thunder' Boycott Imminent
Posted by STV at 5:30 AM on August 12, 2008
After two consecutive close calls, The Dark Knight's stunning box-office reign faces
another formidable challenger this week with Tropic Thunder. Not that Ben Stiller's film is necessarily favoured to knock the blockbuster off — at least not with its R-rating, its meta-Vietnam theme, and definitely not with Tropic Thunder RetardGate threatening to capsize the film on its maiden voyage.
We thought this whole thing was settled last week after DreamWorks yanked its mock Web site for Simple Jack — the movie-within-the-movie featuring the tagline, "Once upon a time there was a retard" — and disability advocates' only slightly unreasonable list of demands ("Paramount/DreamWorks should pull all scenes and clips that include Ben Stiller's portrayal of Simple Jack from the movie, DVD, trailers, promotional material and merchandising") came and went with nary a splash. But in fact the danger worsens by the day, reports one source, which warns of an ambush by aggrieved disability-rights protestors at tonight's premiere in Westwood and a full-scale, national "No Retard" backlash to coincide with Thunder's national opening on Wednesday:
"Not only might it happen, it will happen," Timothy P. Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics, said of the expected push for a boycott. ... Mr. Shriver said that he had also begun to ask members of Congress for a resolution condemning what he called the movie's "hate speech" and calling for stronger federal support of the intellectually disabled. ...
Over the weekend an ad-hoc coalition of more than a dozen disabilities groups -- including the Arc of the United States, the National Down Syndrome Congress, the American Association of People With Disabilities and others -- laid the groundwork for public protests to begin Monday. ... "I came out feeling like I had been assaulted," said David C. Tolleson, executive director of the Down syndrome group who saw the movie.
Funny — that was exactly our reaction to Sean Penn's grossly condescending role in I Am Sam. If only we had mounted a boycott then, we could have nipped this whole crisis in the bud.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
JudgeFudge
Posted 6:07 AM 12/8/08
Quick, someone print up some T-shirts that say "I went full retard, and loved it!"
JudgeFudge
Sleepyhead
Posted 6:06 AM 12/8/08
Do I have to stop liking indie musician Jay Reatard?
Sleepyhead
Shumina
Posted 6:05 AM 12/8/08
Protesting a comedy is "going full retard."
Shumina
teh_joe
Posted 6:03 AM 12/8/08
If you play a retard you're guaranteed an Oscar.
/Kate Winslet in Extras'd
teh_joe
Fry_Bread_Power
Posted 6:01 AM 12/8/08
Protesting movies is sooo retarded.
Fry_Bread_Power
EuroDad
Posted 6:01 AM 12/8/08
@Alexler:
save one for me.
actually - make it two; my nachos need a seat too!
EuroDad
gadge
Posted 5:55 AM 12/8/08
Team 'tard!
gadge
Alexler
Posted 5:43 AM 12/8/08
Let 'em boycott. That means I can take those posh handicapped seats with the extra foot/wheel room.
Alexler
Little Mintz Sunshine
Posted 6:32 AM 12/8/08
Why don't we go back to my place and I'll hate speech the retard out of you?
Little Mintz Sunshine
EuroDad
Posted 6:30 AM 12/8/08
@Le Retour de la revanche de la Nouvelle Vague:
Ali Simms can touch my animal
EuroDad
Le Retour de la revanche de la Nouvelle Vague
Posted 6:28 AM 12/8/08
Have you noticed that Ali Simms in the previous news had the very same expression as the one Stiller has on the poster? They even both touch an animal...
Le Retour de la revanche de la Nouvelle Vague
taraniso
Posted 6:19 AM 12/8/08
This is a textbook example of how not to create advance buzz. What were they thinking? Did Stiller find a rejected script from Family Guy? Oh wait, they don't reject anything over there.....
taraniso
Breadbowl
Posted 6:45 AM 12/8/08
I just have two questions - are they taking the short bus to the theatre and can I get a ride?
Breadbowl
Mr-Busy
Posted 6:43 AM 12/8/08
I liken this to the 'When a tree falls in the forest..." scenario. If you want retarded people to boycott, might they be too retarded to boycott???
"I need you to go to the movie and then stand there and NOT go! Get it?"
Mr-Busy
fellowes
Posted 7:25 AM 12/8/08
Retarded or not, I just don't understand why Ben Stiller's character seems to be warming up to Sarah Jessica Parker in the movie poster. Even retards have taste.
fellowes
Cultmember
Posted 7:16 AM 12/8/08
@teh_joe: Or Leonardo DiCapprio in Leo'tard, I mean What's Eating Gilbert Grape.
Cultmember
EuroDad
Posted 7:07 AM 12/8/08
i am personally offended by the term "boycott"; can't these so-called "disability groups" see that they are just perpetuating the stereotype? why must males constantly suffer this abuse? i fully intend to "girlcott" until reparations are made.
EuroDad
econdave
Posted 7:06 AM 12/8/08
Seriously, you can't buy publicity like this. Stiller must be laughing his a** off.
econdave
Mr-Busy
Posted 7:39 AM 12/8/08
And I thought that they already made it into a movie? With Sean Penn as "Simple Sam"
+ Watch video
@katewrath:
Mr-Busy
Mr-Busy
Posted 7:36 AM 12/8/08
+ Watch video
Mr-Busy
katewrath
Posted 7:35 AM 12/8/08
I am so confused.
Isn't the whole point that "Simple Jack" is a nightmarishly inappropriate idea for a movie, and a sign that Stiller's character possesses not a whit of common sense?
It seems like the boycotters and the movie makers are on the same page: Yes, this a bad, insensitive idea and anyone who would do something like this deserves our scorn and mockery.
Or maybe I'm just drunk.
katewrath
Mr-Busy
Posted 7:34 AM 12/8/08
I would now like Streisand to re-record one of her Yentl classics with a small update:
"Corky, can you hear me?..."
Mr-Busy
el smrtmnky
Posted 8:00 AM 12/8/08
@Mr-Busy: holding out for the hip hop version. i hear corky like to get crunk with the homies.
el smrtmnky
DrAftershave
Posted 8:45 AM 12/8/08
oops, i meant "its". *puts dunce cap on*
DrAftershave
DrAftershave
Posted 8:44 AM 12/8/08
*sigh* i guess to level the playing field out, i should organize a boycott of McDonalds. after all, fair is fair if there is a protest at the premiere.
yes, the cruel streak within me has reared it's ugly head.
DrAftershave
yikesahootie
Posted 8:23 AM 12/8/08
So I guess my new crime family drama -- "The Tardfather" -- won't get greenlit?
yikesahootie
Mr-Busy
Posted 8:23 AM 12/8/08
@el smrtmnky: Snoop Dogg Corky - who doesn't like the sound of that?
Mr-Busy
kylo4
Posted 3:28 PM 12/8/08
I like that poster, and Ben Stiller should make that movie as a joke for the special features. People want to get offended nowadays with their stuck up PC ways.
kylo4
raincoaster
Posted 8:10 PM 12/8/08
I remember when Mister Ed wouldn't give that greasy kid the time of day.
raincoaster
NotReadyForPrimeTime
Posted 1:45 AM 13/8/08
@katewrath:
I love you when you're drunk.
NotReadyForPrimeTime