Reader disagrees with 'Tropic Thunder' critique

This letter is in response to Thomas Baffuto's Aug. 28 letter in the Brick Bulletin.

Even before its release, "Tropic Thunder" was the most recent subject of movie boycotting. These boycotts are actually unwarranted and completely unnecessary.

If Thomas Baffuto, of The Arc of New Jersey, and any other groups boycotting had actually taken the time to see the film, they would see that there is no harm being done. I, like most of these groups, are absolutely against the offensiveness and intolerance against people with disabilities. But that is not what this movie has set out to do.

I definitely agree with the studio's statement that they are not making fun of people with disabilities, but poking fun at every Hollywood actor who has ever taken a role like that in their career.

Ben Stiller's performance as Simple Jack is, in my opinion, no different than Sean Penn's in "I Am Sam." Neither performance is saying "Hey, laugh at the person with disabilities." They are both merely actors performing their trade.

In the case of "Tropic Thunder," it just so happens that it takes place in a comedy film and that's why people are getting riled up. If you take it a step further, no one in the film is ever actually called a "retard" or anything else of that nature. It's only used when speaking about the role he played, and it is never used in a derogatory manner.

I

f anything, they even make

it clear that it is offensive to call someone something like that. And at the end of the day, it is still just a movie. The filmmakers didn't set out to offend anyone, and yet groups are up in arms before even seeing in what light it is portrayed.

The fact remains that "Tropic Thunder" is a hilarious movie. If you don't like its content, then just don't see it.

Jeff Heimbuch

Brick