Tropic Thunder's Simple Jack Bit Offends Disability Groups
Once word of the fake website for Simple Jack got out, several disability rights advocacy groups went to Dreamworks Studios to express concern. The studio shut down the website beforehand before the meeting took place. However, the groups still have concerns about whether the Simple Jack bit is offensive to the disabled.
The Simple Jack bit is, in Tropic Thunder, a fake trailer of one of the film's Ben Stiller's movie star character was in. Stiller's character, Tug Speedman, played a disabled man named Simple Jack, with the tagline "Once upon a time....there was a retard" in the fake poster.
The studio also released a clip in Tropic Thunder whereTug Speedman is upset that playing the mentally disabled title character in Simple Jack did not get him an Oscar nomination or a win. Robert Downey Jr's character, an Australian actor playing a black soldier in blackface, explains that Speedman didn't get an Oscar because he went "full retarded" unlike in Rain Man and Forrest Gump, in an satirical moment explaining how the Oscars reward or do not reward actors for playing mentally disabled roles.
Downey's role in blackface was expected to be the controversial element in Tropic Thunder that would get complaints and arguments from a few people. However, thus far there have been no vocal complaints and Downey's turn is already being hailed as one of the comic highlights of the summer. For Simple Jack however, this relatively brief comedic bit and viral marketing tool has been getting a lot more complaints.
The advocacy groups will be meeting with Dreamworks Pictures over the Simple Jack bit because of it's liberal use of the word "retard." With Tropic Thunder due to be released next Wednesday, it may be a little late to make changes to the scene, especially one that is meant to be a big comedic moment in the movie. But discussion over the intent of the Simple Jack moments and how they will be handled will still take place.
Sources
Rope of Silicon- "Will 'Tropic Thunder' be Handicapped By Disability Advocates?" www.ropeofsilicon.com/article/will_tropic_thunder_be_handicapped_by_disability_advocates
Cinemablend- "Save Tropic Thunder" www.cinemablend.com/new/Save-Tropic-Thunder-9742.html
Published by Robert Dougherty
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13 Comments
Post a CommentWhy can't the mentally impaired laugh at themselves...they are funny bastards. I think that should be a good thing.
These retards need to shut the heck up. People should be allowed to do what they want. I am mad i didnt get to see the simple jack website haha
damn when did everyone get so sensitive to everything....everyone makes fun of everyone else, get over it. this is a movie for entertainment, why does everything have to be picked apart.
simple jack rules,,, ya ya ya.... you......... ma ma ma ma........... make me happy!!
Tropic thunder i would say that movie was really bad, but 1 part that made me laugh so hard i almost died was "Simple Jack".
Why should the disabled people be treaten diffrent cause they are what they are? we make fun of white people and black people the whole time making fun of everything, so why not mentally disabled people? its really funny if you ask me
I'm appalled that everyone is up in arms about a little ribbing of the retarded, who can be expected to smile and giggle at the Simple Jack portion of the film, if they ever saw it, but no one seems to be at all bothered about Downey's appearing in blackface. The retarded (at least in America) have always had a pretty cush deal, with people bending over backwards to feed, clothe and care for them. They have never been subject to lynching, discrimination or mistreatment. They won't understand that there is a joke--they probably won't even see the movie. Just goes to show the state of mind of the average citizen--even retards are of greater value and more deserving of consideration and dignity than Blacks.
Lets get over this sensetivity that is poisoning our culture. Sometimes its good to make fun of our differences...most movies do it all the time. They make fun of the rich, the poor, black, white, indians, jews, gays,ect,ect....when did it become wrong to poke a little fun at people with disabilities. It was a small part of the movie(funny at that!)....Come on!!!! lets learn to laugh, and stop making a big fuss out of nothing! Then maybe these advocacy groups can get some good done, instead of a pointless crusade against a small part of a film.
srry for last post i ment the movie was awesome but retards complaining about it are just stupid.
Get a life, people. It's only a movie. Worry a bit more about the pedophiles and rapist who live right in your very neighborhoods. I think you need to look at the big picture. Don't like it, don't see it.
Get a life, people. It's only a movie. Worry a bit more about the pedophiles and rapist who live right in your very neighborhoods. I think you need to look at the big picture. Don't like it, don't see it.