The late-summer comedy “Tropic Thunder” is filled with crude but often genuine humor and boasts an impressive ensemble of actors, including director and co-writer Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black. Poking fun at Hollywood and the filmmaking process, writers Justin Theroux and Etan Cohen help Stiller offer up an original and clever plot with wildly conceived twists that present a few opportunities for some very funny and surprising cameos by various well-known actors.

While making the most expensive war movie in history, a group of pampered actors are deserted in a jungle and eventually become kidnapped by a band of druglords who believe them to be government narcotic agents.

Under the assumption that they are participating in a “method acting” approach to their roles and that they are being filmed by hidden cameras, the hapless actors trudge through the jungle spending most of their time bickering with each other about the script and the questionable future of their careers.

Trying to recover from making a string of recent flops, insecure action star, Tugg Speedman (Stiller) breaks away from the “squad” and sets off on his own, determined to follow the script. Less invested in the completion of the film and more concerned about their lack of creature comforts is a drugged-out comedian Jeff Portnoy (Black) and a rap star turned soft drink spokesman, Alpa Chino (Brandon T. Jackson).

With the accidental discovery that Tugg has been kidnapped, Oscar-winning actor Kirk Lazarus (Downey Jr.), who has had his skin surgically altered to play a black man, convinces his fellow actors to bond together as they form a plan for a real-life rescue.

Coming off of his outstanding performance earlier this year in “Iron Man,” Downey Jr. provides a funny and multifaceted characterization. Small but crucial roles by Matthew McConaughey, Nick Nolte and an almost unrecognizable Tom Cruise add energy and flair to this charismatic and talented cast.

The raunchy humor and over-the-top sight gags might be offensive to some moviegoers. However, fans familiar with Stiller’s style and approach to farcical filmmaking will likely find this offering an exceedingly entertaining trip to the box office.

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(3 out of 4 stars)