The particulars of the dust up over the comedy Tropic Thunder...Reps from of the Special Olympics, The Arc of the United States, the National Down Syndrome Congress, the American Association of People with Disabilities and other groups met with studio executives last week to discuss their concerns.
DreamWorks will not make any cuts or changes to the movie despite advocacy groups calling for a boycott of the Ben Stiller-directed spoof according to The ABC.
At issue here is the use of the word 'retard' numerous times in the film, specifically to a 'movie within a movie' character named Simple Jack played by Stiller.
The character is a small but no less pivotal to the plot and one of the film's more successful comedic sequences satirizing Hollywood actors, a simple cut doesn't seem to be a viable option.
A Dreamworks spokesman: "Tropic Thunder is a ... comedy that satirises Hollywood and its excesses, and makes its point by featuring inappropriate and over-the-top characters in ridiculous situations. The film is in no way meant to disparage or harm the image of individuals with disabilities."
While the word does have its offensive definition. I think these groups need to remember that this is a comedy...If any group should be offended it should be the Hollywood crowd-they take a much bigger hit.
Also, like it or not, the word is more common among innocent speech than any one's willing to admit.
The word has been used over and over in countless flicks...
I agree with the studio on this one....The word is not a good word. But this is PC over-reaction...
The situation is interesting ...the studio which was bracing for complaints about Robert Downey Jr. role of a white Australian actor who changes his skin colour to play an African-American soldier. So far no complaints.
The film opens Wednesday.
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