‘Never go full retard’
August 1st, 2008
From www.aceshowbiz.com:
Here’s a very unofficial transcript of a scene from the upcoming film Tropic Thunder, in which Robert Downey Jr. (right) advises Ben Stiller on how to play a character with an intellectual disability. In the scene, the two men are actors discussing a fictional film called “Simple Jack.” (Note: Includes language that may be considered offensive.)
Stiller: There were times when I was doing Jack when I actually felt retarded. Like really retarded.
Downey: Oh yeah. Damn.
Stiller: In a weird way, I had to sort of just free myself up to believe that it was okay to be stupid or dumb.
Downey: To be a moron.
Stiller: Yeah.
Downey: To be moronical.
Stiller: Exactly.
Downey: An imbecile.
Stiller: Yeah. When I was playing a character.
Downey: When you was a character.
Stiller: Yeah, I mean, as Jack. Definitely.
Downey: It’s like working with mercury. It’s how science makes art form.
Stiller: Yeah.
Downey: You an artist.
Stiller: It’s what we do, right?
Downey: Everybody knows you never do a full retard.
Stiller: What do you mean?
Downey: Check it out. Dustin Hoffman, Rainman, look retarded, act retarded, not retarded. Count toothpicks to your cards. Autistic. Sure. Not retarded.
You know Tom Hanks, Forrest Gump. Slow, yes. Retarded, maybe. Braces on his legs. But he charmed the pants off Nixon and he won a ping-pong competition? That ain’t retarded.
You went full retard, man. Never go full retard.
Earlier post here.
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October 8th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Words are only offensive or inappropriate if we deem them so. Words like “gay” are used to refer to something at “stupid” or “lame” and hardly anyone gets offended anymore. Taking the stigma off of being gay has made the word harmless. Maybe doing the same with mental retardation will make the word “retarded” harmless and inoffensive.
Also, people need to lighten up. The need for political correctness and over sensitivity toward others is astounding. No one is safe to make a joke or express an opinion, lest they offend someone within ear shot. People are no longer “fat” they’re “overweight”. People with “birth defects” now have “birth differences”. People with “disabilities” are now “differently abled”. It’s stupid and it further accentuates the differences between us. If we all chilled out for a minute and decided to treat everyone the same, words would no longer be so offensive. If we stopped focusing on being sensitive to people’s disabilities and treated them like normal people they wouldn’t feel so different and no one would have to get their feelings hurt over a word or a label.
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:06 am
CareerBuilder.com should fire their advertising agency for selling them a gross, overworked idea that does not address a target audience that would be grateful for jobs with unpleasant working conditions so they could hold on to their homes, feed their children and have access to health insurance.
The CareerBuilder commercial that played during the Superbowl last Sundayidentified by most people as the “Hey Dummy” ad was offensive to my son, who got up and walked out of the room, saying “I don’t need to hear that.”
I certainly protest the repeated use of that defamatory phrase – surely we already have enough new catch phrases coined by Ben Stiller and his co-writers from Tropic Thunder.
I stayed to see what product was being advertised and was surprised that during these times when unemployment is reaching staggering numbers that the ad company chose to target unpleasant working conditions as the main reason to use a job search company. There was no reference to the company until the end of the commercial, so anyone not leaving for a snack, drink or bathroom break was probably unaware what company paid for the ad.
I would think that the person who persuaded CareerBuilder.com to accept the ad as presented should be let go, too – after all, that company should be more aware than most that a bigger target audience than dissatisfied employees was watching the Superbowl.
Maybe they are doing so well in this economy that they don’t care about who they insult or disregard. Seems like their main competitor should swoop in to collect the customers CareerBuilder.com snubs and insults.
January 31st, 2009 at 12:49 am
It’s a f-f-f-f-funny m-m-m-m-movie, but not for p-p-p-people with hangups, or *severe* intellectual disabilities, due to the fact that they may be thinking the movie is poking f-f-f-fun at them. Go to y-y-y-y-youtube and type in r-r-r-retarded policeman. There’s about 20 or so episodes, and the starring role is actually played by an intellectually challenged person (I believe Downs Syndrome?) who can poke fun at and actually take advantage of his own situation thru acting it out. Everybody loves him. His own parents and brother back him, and the episodes are h-h-h-hilarious. B-b-b-by the way,
I was diagnosed with some intellectual disabilities and just sometimes you have to lighten up and poke fun at it, as thinking too seriously about it all the time can really bring you down. There is nothing wrong with having a sense of humor about it sometimes too. The Blacks reclaimed to N word, the gays reclaimed the Q word, so use intellectual muck-ups should reclaim the R word (retard).
This is the normal evolution of language. Does anyone still take offense at the word “dummy”? Now you buy books, “Windows (oe auto repair, or whatever) For Dummies”. Years ago, that word was equivalent to “retard” (as it referred to the dumb, or people who cannot speak) but people “dumbed it down”, and it lost it’s sting. That needs to be done with “retard”. Look at the old Three Stooges movies, who were shown to us kids in the 50’s and 60’s, on TV shows for kids, where the repeated use of the words “idiot”, “moron” and “imbecile”were used. At one time those were equivalent to the word “retard”, as they were the medical terms for different degrees of retardation.
I was made fun of a lot in school, and should have laughed it off, but I took everything too seriously. But I can laugh it off now retroactively. It clears the mind of that old baggage.
January 1st, 2009 at 1:20 am
Spoken:
Dee de dee, doesn’t mean mentally retarded. It means stupid. This song goes out to all the stupid people out there, you’re gonna find this song hilarious, and you don’t even know…it’s about you.
[Verse 1]
You dropped out of school cause you’re smarter than everybody
I got three words for you dumbass, “Ding, fries ready”
You try to outrun a bull, but nobody’s that fast
That’s how you end up, with a horn stuck up your ass
Roethlisberger needs no helmet cause he’s a star
But the year the bus left, he got hit by a car
You wanna go huntin’ for quail someplace
Don’t go with Cheney, he’ll put a fuckin shot in your face
If you bungee jump so you can fly through the air
I ain’t upset you ended up in that wheelchair
You ignore all the warnings, yeah you light up a smoke
Now you have to talk with a machine through your throat
[Chorus]
How many idiots can there be?
Some say that it’s 1 out of 3
If you don’t know then take it from me
You’re the dee dee dee
(spoken) you you you
dee dee dee
And if you are a Dee
Please don’t marry a Dee
Cause then your kids will be (what? what?)
Dee dee dee
(spoken) dee dee dee
[Verse 2]
You cry about the price of gas and war in Iraq
But you voted Bush in twice what were you smokin, crack?
Didn’t get a prenup, though you knew she was a skank
Now you’ve got herpes and she’s got half your bank
You were on top of the world with “Hit Me Baby One More Time”
Only a stupid bitch would marry Kevin Federline
You drink and drive and you think it’s okay
Now you’re cell mate’s weavin in and out the “hershey highway”
When you put tigers on your show and they can’t be free
They’ll bite your neck off and then you’ll say (chokingly) “dee dee dee” (cough)
[Chorus]
How many idiots can there be?
Some say that it’s 1 out of 3
If you don’t know then take it from me
You’re the dee dee dee
(spoken) you you you
Eee dee dee
And if you are a Dee
Please don’t marry a Dee
It’s genetics don’t you see?
Your kids will be dee dee dee
(spoken)
That’s what they’re gonna be: DEE DEE DEE!!!
[Verse 3]
Parents are to blame for all these dee dee dee’s
Letting their kids drop out and not get GED’s
You keep your kids inside cause there’s freaks on the loose
But yet you let them drink from Michael Jackson’s “Jesus Juice”?
You don’t care when your kids come home with D’s from class
What you need to do is get some balls and beat that ass
He isn’t stupid, you say he’s got A.D.D.
It’s that his mom and his dad are both dee dee dee!
[Bridge]
This test is too hard! (So they lower the standards)
I’m not good at sports! (So they give them all trophies)
My dad used to spank me (So they lower the standards)
I’m too fat for this seat (So they widen the standards)
They say no cause I’m black (So they lower the standards)
They say no cause I’m white (So they lower the standards)
They say no cause I’m Asian (So they lower the standards)
No habla Englais (So we all become Spaniards)
And you wake up one day and you don’t have the skills
To get a better job so you’re stuck on the grill
You’re wondering why Julio took your job
But you forget to see, you’re as dumb as a knob
Your ass is too fat to get out of the house
While you’re eating more food trying to figure it out
So they outsource your job to some guy named Habib
Cause he works harder than you and he’s got 5 degrees
And you’re asking yourself how could this happen to me
I’ll tell you why, homie! Cause you’re….dee dee dee
Dee dee dee
Dee dee dee
December 24th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
If you don’t like the movie, don’t see it. Political correctness (right along with other abominations like affirmative action) has been on its way out the last ten years. You have a first amendment right to free speech; you do not have the right to not be offended. Deal with it.
And just remember, don’t go full retard.
December 17th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Why does everyone play the victim? Its a movie…. and a very funny one at that.. I have a half brother who is mentally retarded, and I choose not to be bothered by this.. You all act like this is the end of the world, and are attempting to slur someone who u feel slurred you.. Get angry, get mad! I will despise your cause because you have no class, and your nothing but victimized weaklings.
December 5th, 2008 at 11:45 am
As parents of children with special needs, we have many responsibilities and joys. We wear several hats: parent, teacher of our child, educator of the world around our child, mentor to new parents, political advocate, and social reformer. All of these roles are necessary to make a better world for our children (individually and collectively). Loving and appreciating my child is neither difficult not enormously time-consuming any more than doing so for my other children. It absolutely does not exclude me from other activities to benefit her; in fact, it is my love for her that creates the imperative to advocate.
I had the pleasure of recently addressing hundreds of middle school children in a neighboring town about using the word “retarded” in slang and in referencing someone with a cognitive disability. I was floored by how intently they LISTENED, the variety and insightfulness of their questions, the sincerity of their thank you notes, and most of all the results as teachers reported the changes in the school to me.
I gave them history – the history of people with cognitive disabilities, from the slaughter by the Nazis of children like mine long before World War II, to forced sterilizations, and coerced life-long institutionalization, to exclusion from the educational system. I noted the progress, but the existing challenges from the attitudes of the public. I explained to them that the word “retarded” has historically been used to describe the way my daughter thinks, and is still in use in many clinical settings. I told them stories, including Pat’s daughter Margaret’s experience being called a “retard,” another teen’s experience overhearing other teenagers, and my own experience. And they met my daughter. I told them to ask me anything at the end, and I was shocked when I was bombarded with thoughtful questions.
Since that time, teachers have told me that they are not hearing the word “retarded” in the halls. At all. There was no new rule, no new punishment, no ramifications whatsoever beyond the knowledge that they were hurting people when they used that word. Whatever Ben Stiller’s motivations were, his movie threatens that progress. And as I see his DVD in the aisles while I shop (and I hear from my middle-schooler that many of the kids in her school will be watching the movie on DVD) I realize his messages will reach a million times more people than mine. I doubt it will be the satire that they’ll appreciate, but I’m sure they’ll pick up a few choice phrases.
December 4th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Melissa Hart wrote. “My son is going out there in the real world next month; he’s starting kindergarten in public school. Our schools have a “No bullying” policy, and our superintendent has already been sent a letter warning him about the t-shirts, and they will not be acceptable. So, my question to you is, how do I get them off of the streets? How do we get the kids not to call their friends “retards”? Why did you feel the need to make my son the punch line of your joke?”
Believe me Ben Stiller did not tell people to call your kid a retard. He was only pointing out how shameless hollywood is in profiting off of intellectually challenged people and their situations. No real person has splinter skills and disablities as extreme as Rain Man, but did that keep Hollywood from cashing in…No! I am telling you if I did a movie on Barrack Obama’s success and painted myself in black face he would be no less offended, even if the NAACP said it was okay. You are basically saying it is okay to mimick someone mentally handicapped when you are not, and make a profit off of it, but it is not okay to say Retard. You have got to be kidding me.
I have met many kids with who suffer with down syndrome and they are not retarded or mentally challenged. If anything they are blessed to know love and be able to see through others faults and still love them. I had a friend with down syndrome and she loved me unconditionally. She never lost that child like undertanding. She knew people could be mean, but I never knew her to have that spirit in her. She LOVED. I would advise you as the learned individual that you are to never make your child feel like they are less qualified than other children. A simple word can never, and I mean never change his worth. He is if anything better than other kids, because of the way he sees things and the beauty in the simplicity of his world. God has given challenges to you to be able to understand the complexity of your son’s reasoning. Your time would be better suited loving him and enjoying the moments you have with him. The hollywood jerks right or wrong will continue to do offensive things, but you have a chance to enjoy the a human being that is the closest thing to an agel you will ever see. Enjoy him and forget all the imbociles in Hollywood.
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:35 pm
It is obvious that the DVD sales of “Tropic Thunder” are disappointing, and the public relations machine believes that stirring up the controversy will give it another boost.
For most people, “Tropic Thunder” is a loser movie. It is not just families, advocates and individuals with developmental disabilities who find it seriously flawed. The movie boycott did the public a favor. Even those who were not aware that the terminology and representations of families and individuals was creepy know a turkey when they see one, and I’m sure that those who waited to see the DVD are telling their friends not to waste their money.
There are a lot of ‘gross out’ comedies available and many ’satires’ that did not drive mainstream audiences out of theaters. Tropic Thunder was a hit because the advertising budget was enormous, but it is not the sort of turkey we need around for the holidays. It’s not funny, it’s not smart, and you’ll never get those hours of your life back again. Your time would be spent more enjoyably pulling a splinter out of an infected finger.
November 29th, 2008 at 12:24 am
As you can see from all of the angry hockey moms below: our entire society has gone full retard. So many people refuse to think about anything beyond simple knee-jerk reactions. These same people who think they’re so “sensitive” are actually twisting every applicable situation into an excuse to brand someone a bigot.
The true hatemongers are people like Terri, Carissa, Jessica, etc., who haven’t educated themselves enough, and don’t think deeply enough, to consider that things aren’t always exactly as they present themselves to their infantile minds.
November 16th, 2008 at 12:58 am
Okay, two cents. I am what the conservatives out there would refer to as “disgustingly politically correct” (to use a more politically correct term for it, of course). I never intentionally use racial slurs, I do not refer to people as “retards,” I do not use “gay” to mean “stupid,” and to boot, I challenge other people when they do. And yes, I even challenge humour that does the same, no matter how many big time actors are in it. Do I have a problem with some of the things Tropic Thunder has going for it? Yes, the fact that I feel they probably didn’t spend as much time consulting with people with disabilities as they did people of colour, but most importantly the fact that they wrote this without really understanding how clueless a lot of the audience would be about it, paving the way for an offencive catch-phrase in a scene by not thinking it through thoroughly or really caring about the consequences.
But the controversy surrounding that part of the film is absolutely ludicrous! You know what the real problem is, here? The people who wrote this movie didn’t figure in that people just plain don’t understand simple English enough to understand what is meant in the film.
The actors in Tropic Thunder are portraying stuck-up idiots. Downey Jr. was berating Stiller for making his character “too retarded” rather than follow the (similarly exploitative but far more popular) meme of playing a character who, while cognitively disabled, still displays a great deal of intelligence (like in “Rain Man” or “Forrest Gump”). He complains that Stiller went “too far into the role” and that this is the reason for his lack of success. At the same time this is utterly ironic because Downey’s character becomes so obsessed with his own characters that he does such ridiculously stupid things as getting his race medically changed for a movie. For that, he gets berated by Jackson’s character because he has taken away an opportunity for an African American actor in the name of his own resume, all the while thinking he is doing a service to them. Then, at the same time, Jackson’s character is a closet case who goes to extremely sexist lengths to prove that he isn’t gay with ads for his “Booty Sweat” and “Bust-a-Nut” energy drinks.
This is an extremely smart comedy, yet people can’t see that in favour of pointing at a line and focusing all their attention on the fact that somebody used the word “retarded.”
October 22nd, 2008 at 1:16 am
Looks like this thread went full retard. You never go full retard.
October 21st, 2008 at 4:00 am
People. Don’t you see?
If we rename topics that make us uncomfortable, we can make them go away. It’s the new way to deal with things we don’t really want to deal with!
Whatever you do, if you see a challenged or “specially-abled” individual, don’t interact with them like a “non-specially-abled” person — you run the risk of offending them! Or offending someone nearby! It’s likely that there are a number of people around you that are ready to be offended by an endless list of topics. It’s simply safer to avoid eye contact and move along. Nothing to see here.
“Never go full whiner.”
September 25th, 2008 at 11:42 am
I stumbled across this blog about “full retard” – I wrote on this topic in my own blog, for anyone that is interested:
http://www.muchgooder.com/home/adam.nsf/LookupContentByKey/full_retard
What is sad is those that try to push their moralities and sense of decency on the rest of the world. The movie was making fun of hollywood and the actors that take roles to win awards. It was also making fun of the audiences (including the people that find this movie offensive) that went to those movies and enjoyed them. Downey Jr’s character (correctly) pointed out that if the character was “too retarded”, people (like you) didn’t go to see it and they didn’t win awards.
But that isn’t the point. If you find something offensive, please don’t go to see it. Free speech or art does not come with a “decency” label attached to it. Isn’t everything going to be offensive to someone? I’m tired of people telling me what I can and can’t watch. I probably hate a lot of the things that you like or find funny but I will fight to the death to protect your right to enjoy such things. Please give me the same respect.
(and yes, I have a handicapped person in my immediate family)
September 5th, 2008 at 6:15 am
LOL!!! That was so funny and so true. I hate these liberal pansies, who make it there job to complain about things just for the sake of complaining. I bet they are woman in there mid to late 40s and 50 who have nothing better to do because there sex drive has dissipated, and the only way they can rock there socks is by directing there frustration on things that make light of today social problems. I laughed the most at the Simple Jack scene, and after seeing the movie I wanted to watch more of it on the internet, but because of those 40 to 50 year old woman Dreamworks took the trailer down.
September 1st, 2008 at 7:48 am
WAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
This movie is hilarious. Lighten the hell up people. I used to work with mentally handicapped patients. My first day on the job, the trainer yells to one of our charges “Deb, you’re retarded!” She quickly replied with a huge grin “Nuh-uh. I am mentally challenged.” Just like that, she put it in my face. They’re different, they know it, and they have a sense of humor about it.
Why is it wrong to point out our differences and have a laugh? Every single one of us was created with our own DNA, our own brain, our own purpose. Why try to pretend that we’re not? Why tiptoe around hoping that no one notices that we’re nothing like the next person?
The only people here who are offended are the ones who feel guilty about some person in their lives who they think is at a disadvantage. Ask that person how they really feel about this subject. If they aren’t completely miserable, they’re laughing through their shortcomings. Yes, children count too, because ALL kids have to learn to deal with teasing of some kind for being skinny, fat, tall, short, too smart, not smart enough, poor, etc, etc. They’re better off learning to laugh about it early on.
By the way, this is R Rated. Keep your little ones out of the theatre, and don’t get the DVD. I saw a 5 year old a few rows back during my viewing. Way to go Dad.
August 31st, 2008 at 11:02 am
Tropic Thunder is number one for 3rd week in a row. Clearly most people find it funny and not offensive. I suppose anything that is new and funny risks offending someone and I do feel sorry for those who were hurt by the movie.
There are always a few super sensitive people, but you can’t allow them to control freedom of expression.
For those who haven’t see it, is a pretty funny movie.
August 30th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
haha that scene is hilarious. the whole movie was hilarious. take a joke… jeeez
August 28th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
I have friends who have handicapped children — let me tell you there are smarter the un-handicapped ones!!!!…Please, people can make a movie with out using certain words that are harmful to hear about others. Dreamworks are losing sight of making fun of other people … and topics for movies … so much for Dreamworks …
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:40 am
The problem here is that the studio screened the film for the NAACP and veterans organizations to make sure that they would not be too offended but neglected to do the same for disability rights groups. Of course I see that the film is a satire and I get the point that the film was attempting to get across, but it still went over the line. It might be easier to turn a blind eye if “Never Go Full Retard” had not become the hottest catchphrase since “Show Me The Money.” There are tshirts out now saying “Never Go Full Retard.” It’s just in poor taste and no one really seems to care who it offends or hurts.
August 20th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Oh my gosh people. I saw the movie and I consider myself to be a compassionate, caring person. So many things get taken out of context as did “never go full retard”. It was a funny movie, not a quality movie…you cant go to a Stiller movie and expect quality, but it was funny. This movie was an equal opportunity offender. It didn’t just point the “retard” finger. Its just a movie and just words. I call my sister a retard if she does something stupid or funny. Im sure that all of you people complaining, at one time or another, have made fun of someone or have called someone a retard in a joking manner. That is all this is.
August 20th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
This is satire. It was satire that was aimed at the idiocy of Hollywood actors (such as Sean Penn in “I am Sam” or Cuba Gooding Jr. in “Radio”) as they pander to the academy to obtain an Oscar — almost demanding it. The comedy in the scene is the contrast of the moron (Speedman, not Simple Jack or even the character of Four-Leaf) and the award winning actor (Lazarus).
Satire.
Lazarus claims Speedman took the character too far — despite the fact that he is a white Ausie who underwent a medical procedure to play a black man.
Satire.
Lazarus claims Speedman took the character too far — despite the fact that, had he taken on this role, he would have had himself labatomized prior to principle photography.
Satire.
You have a guy that was ridiculed for taking on the role of Simple Jack, but it is his portrayal of the lovable character (“five shows a night to a standing room only crowd!”) that saves the lives of the action heroes.
Satire.
If satire is not biting — if it does not cross a few lines — it is not very good satire. This is excellent satire. And it is an amazingly funny movie.
August 20th, 2008 at 10:43 am
I saw the movie Saturday night. Laughed through the entire movie. I mentioned to a friend that I had seen it and they told me about there was some controversy over the film. I asked, “What?!? About what?” When they told me I just shook my head and thought “you have got to be kidding me.”
The actors in this movie clearly overestimated the intelligence of the general public and their ability to get the point they were trying to make.
August 19th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
it’s just satire. don’t get too excited. after all, every human get’s made fun of sooner or later. it’s part of the life experience. just don’t go full retard over it
August 19th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Like seriously, they were not making fun of mentally challenged people. If you were offended by this movie, chances are you probably aren’t mentally challenged. Also if you think stopping movies like this will stop people from being picked on, one day you will come to a very sad realization. Do some research throughout history, people have been picked on for HUNDREDS of years. You just need to learn to live with it.
August 18th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Speedman was robbed.
August 18th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Does anyone tell Robert Downey Jr.’s character not to go “full nigger?”
Or is that “DIFFERENT?”
Hey, I haven’t seen the movie…maybe someone does.
August 18th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Seriously? This was not on the news. Not on public TV, Radio, or anything else. If you don’t want to hear it – you don’t have to.
The only reason most of you politically correct idiots will even know about this is because of the huge deal the moronic activists are making about it. If they’d keep their opinionated overly-sensitive mouths shut – people wouldn’t even realize this “awful travesty” had occurred.
Seriously. It’s a Stiller movie. It’s not going to be dealing with a serious humanitarian problem… It’s a (very funny) COMEDY. About 90% of the people in the theater I saw the film in were literally laughing out loud thru plenty of the movie.
I don’t understand how this movie (which wasn’t even making fun of the mentally challenged – but instead the A-list actors who portray them) could make such a splash when movies like “THE RINGER” pass by like nothings happened.
Read about THAT plot here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0267891/
Oh – and it was rated “R” so it’s not like there hasn’t been worse out there. It’s not meant for kids. So I don’t see how that’s relevant (as some of you brought up impacts on children).
If you are complaining about the movie and haven’t seen it – stop. You probably don’t quite comprehend the context it was in. It was funny. The 70 year old man sitting in front of me was laughing just as hard as the 20 somethings in the back of the theater. Most everyone was completely laughing out loud. Just RELAX and have a laugh. It wasn’t malicious.
August 17th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
I saw this movie on Friday and it was obvious to me that this scene was was written to demonstrate that the real “retards” were the two characters who thought it was okay to refer to disabled people like this without flinching. It’s the moment that you really get to see how vapid the characters are. And it was effective.
August 16th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Haven’t seen the movie, hadn’t even really been paying attention to the hoopla. Yet the one thing I love about controversies like this it gets people TALKING. The truth of the matter is that in the end, the discussions this will open up, the people who are outraged who have spoken up, the people who will listen to those stories and be touched and possibly change, all of that makes it worth it.
we can outlaw words, we can tell people to pretend to be nice. none of it works. i know firsthand; as a overweight, black female with mental problems, there is not too much that is not “joke” worthy about me. But i’d rather people say their idiotic crap out loud rather than hide behind a cloud of political correctness. It makes it easier to know who to cross off the xmas card list.
August 16th, 2008 at 10:01 am
It amazes me now many well-intentioned folks are going full retard over a stupid movie. It’s like a Special Olympics event to see who can generate more publicity and make the phrase *more* popular, because, just like the Special Olympics, no matter who “wins”, you’re still retarded!
“Never go full retard!”
August 15th, 2008 at 8:32 am
After having read a number of Tropic Thunder apologist posts which do contain some valid points, I’m gonna have to disagree with the free pass you’re giving people for using this word.
Yes, for me and people of my generation the word “retard” generally refers to a non retarded person who is doing something or acting in a way that defies logic. And yes, there is a point at which MR advocates get so protective that they fail to treat these people as human. And yes, in the context of this scene it seems to be more a discussion of portraying the mentally handicapped than a “let’s laugh at retards” gag.
However, every time i find myself using this word, it hurts. Because I can’t help but put myself in someone else’s shoes who might be hearing me say this word and thinking how I’m using it like it’s the worst thing in the world when for them, it’s daily life. We’ve got to find a different word. Just like the “n” word there are some appropriate uses. However due to the history of the word as a tool of oppression it’s important for one to go out of her way to signify the context in which it’s being used. And of course using the word repeatedly or gratuitously is unacceptable. I’d say the same goes for the “r” word, which by the way is used 17 times in the script.
August 15th, 2008 at 7:58 am
Bravo to Stiller.
This is a hilarious lampoon of a common phenomena. It has become a mark of accomplishment in Hollywood to play a developmentally disabled person–but only for vain, overpaid, non-developmentally disabled actors seeking to bolster their “serious” resumes. How are Ben Stiller’s character’s actions in this movie somehow less offensive than Sean Penn “respectfully” mimicking the mannerisms of an autistic person ( I Am Sam)? Clearly, the U.S. consumer market is very curious about autism. We’re constantly seeking out movies and television shows that mollify our anxieties about this issue and that absolve us from having to do anything about it. How do we deal with our frets and fears about an increasingly common condition? We pay to see movies where non-developmentally disabled actors fake autism for cheap tears. This is a form of emotional pornography. It’s in bad taste.
If Richard Gere were to accept a part playing Frederick Douglas in black-face, the calls for protest would be swift and immediate. But when Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man rocks back and fourth screaming and wailing in a crude affectation of autism we call the performance “uplifting.” Bravo to Stiller for being an artist and comedian and pointing out obvious society-wide hypocrisy.
August 15th, 2008 at 7:55 am
I have a 4 year old son that parrots anything that gets a laugh. He is friendly with a neighbor with Down’s. Some day soon, I am sure some 12 year old in the neighborhood will make fun of Amy and he will hear it. Human nature. If that punk kid gets a laugh, my son will not recognize the hurtful words, but the humorous reaction. It is my job as a parent to show him why that is wrong.
It doesn’t matter if the phrase comes from a movie or from a neighbor, it will be a chance for me to help my son grow and be a better person.
If you depend on Hollywood to lead and dictate acceptable behavior, than you are a lousy parent.
Take responsibility for your actions. Take responsibility for raising your kids right.
Blaming Hollywood, Ben Stiller, or that 12-year old down the street is ridiculous.
Teach your children and yourself to think and show them how to be empathetic.
Do you only react strongly to negative things? Well, you got my attention. React strongly to the good things and good will follow.
Lighten up, people … it is only a movie.
Straighten up, people … and take charge of teaching your kids. Turn off the TV and turn on your listening skills.
You can never over-indulge a child with positive attention.
August 15th, 2008 at 6:20 am
It is very ironic that the word retard is offensive. The only true negative connotation of the word comes from the use of the word to describe someone who is not really what the word means. If I were to say to someone who is not Intellectually challenged that they are intellectually challenged, then those words will become as unacceptable as retard.
Lets face facts, the word retard or mentally retarded describes the same thing as intellectually challenged, it just does so in a simpler way. It became a negative, slanderous word when people took offense to it. Prior to that it was just an adjective, that described someone with a disability. It is not a hateful term, when used in the correct context, only when people use it to describe someone who is not truly disabled does it or did it become negative.
The word Retard is only negative if you do not accept the fact that these intellectually challenged people are in fact slowed, or impaired in the development of their cognitive process. Those are facts, not disputable. Can someone who is retarded still be a good person? Of course. They can love and be loved and really if we all can just learn to love each other, then the world would be a better place. When you hate someone that uses an adjective just because you can not accept the meaning of it then you perpetuate the hate, and really what good are you doing?
By the way would you have been less offended if he would say “never go full intllectually challenged?” It’s not as funny only because it takes too long to say, the meaning is the same. Don’t confuse the facts that the meanings are the same.
August 14th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Dear Mr. Stiller,
I haven’t slept in 5 nights, and it is your fault. Here I sit, at 1:08 in the morning. I was in bed, but my mind has been racing, and I needed to come and write you a letter. You see, 5 days ago, I learned about your new movie. I also learned about one particular scene in that movie. And that is why I am awake. I need to get some things off of my chest.
A little background. In November of 2002, my husband and I welcomed our third child into this world. The morning after he was born, we learned that he had Down syndrome. Our lives were turned upside-down. We were thrust into a new world, which was scary and full of the unknowns.
Our new son had several challenges in his first few years of life. We had a few ambulance rides to the hospital. We had to learn all knew medical terminology because our son needed a cardiologist, an ENT, and an orthopedic surgeon, to name a few. He needed to have an occupational therapist, a physical therapist and a speech therapist (still does). He needs glasses, he has ankle braces. He has had 5 surgeries to put tubes in his ears. He had his tonsils and adenoids out. He’s had swallow studies and sleep studies. He’s had EKG’s. He’s been through a lot, and he’s only 5.
We’ve met a lot of families like ours along the way. Some have children who have been very sick, and almost died. Some have had children who have been very sick and have died. Some of these kids have gone through more in their short lives than most adults ever will. They’re fighters. Their parents are fighters.
It is my job to protect my son, to love and nurture him. I keep him safe while he’s in our home. I can monitor what he sees, and what he hears. Nobody here will make fun of him. No one will call him names. He will never feel like less of a person when he is home. He has brought us all such joy, we cannot imagine not having him in our lives. He is very smart, and has the best sense of humor. He really loves everyone, and they love him in return.
Now, here is where you come in.
You felt the need to put a character in your new movie. A “special” character, mocking people with disabilities. You also felt the need to push the envelope a bit further. You threw the “r” word in there, too. And not just once. Many, many times. And you think that it’s OK “in context” and it’s really making fun of actors in Hollywood. Well, when people leave the movie, I’m willing to bet that quite a few are going to take your new tag line out of context and will be using it quite frequently. I have already seen the shirts on EBay, and the movie just opened today. Now, how am I supposed to protect my son from that? And, you say its rated R, so younger children and teens won’t see it. You and I both know that these kids are going to watch the movie, in the theatres, on DVD, on Pay-Per-View and are going to come away thinking it’s funny to use the word “retard”. They’re going to see the “Never go full retard” t-shirts. You did this.
My son is going out there in the real world next month; he’s starting kindergarten in public school. Our schools have a “No bullying” policy, and our superintendent has already been sent a letter warning him about the t-shirts, and they will not be acceptable. So, my question to you is, how do I get them off of the streets? How do we get the kids not to call their friends “retards”? Why did you feel the need to make my son the punch line of your joke?
Now is your opportunity to be a bigger man. Step up and apologize to the four million Americans with disabilities. Admit that you made a mistake; you THOUGHT that it would be OK in context. You didn’t think ahead. You were wrong. Take some of your “Tropic Thunder” profits and start a Words Hurt campaign. Vow never to use the word again. Have your celebrity pals do the same. Maybe you’d gain back some respect. My husband and I have seen every movie you’ve been in; you’ve always been a favorite of ours. Our 10 and 8 year-olds loved Jack Black. We’ve all been crushed to learn how uncaring you both truly are.
I started an online petition 3 days ago, requesting the ban on the “r” word and “Tropic Thunder”. I have close to 2,300 signatures already. You should really take the time to read some of the comments posted by the families. They’ll break your heart (if you have one). http://www.ipetitions.com/peti...
Well, I could go on and on, but I won’t. I am going to attempt to clear my head and climb into bed. I can rest a bit easier knowing that I am fighting for my son. I won’t give up. He deserves to be respected. He deserves to be treated with dignity.
Hopefully the next time I see you on “Nightline”, you won’t be patting yourself on the back, you’ll be issuing an apology.
— Melissa Hart
August 14th, 2008 at 7:55 am
Saw it last night and it was hilarious. It didn’t prompt me to think of “mentally challenged” people in a different way, but reading some of the comments here, I do realize that treating the mentally deficient person like a “cute puppy” as one person suggested happened in Forrest Gump is also very defensive.
Not defining it that way, but the idea that all such people are sweet and cute and you should feel a tug at your heartstrings and an “awwwww” should be on your lips whenever you encounter such a person. How do you think the person in question (if they are aware of it) might feel about that kind of treatment or depiction?
I think that the world will never understand the inside workings of a person who is in a position of mental “differentness” and so any depiction will most likely be “off” and possibly offensive to anyone.
Then there are people like Crispin Glover who made a movie with a cast mostly made of a REAL people affected with Down syndrome, CP and brain damage,complete with a real sex scene with a real teenage couple affected with down syndrome (Gasp!! You mean, people “like that” do that kind of thing!?!?)
I was not offended at Glover’s film, though bizarre it was, it treated the (real) people/actors with respect and did not make them cute or adorable in any way. OF course, I am sure MANY people would be totally offended at his movie also, because they don’t know how else to react to it!
August 13th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
See the movie and you will understand why its not offensive. And FYI, all you MR advocates treated them LESS like humans by not allowing them to be made fun of.
August 13th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
I had not even heard about this movie until today when a friend sent me an e-mail about it referring to the above scene with a link to this website.
I have a younger sister who has CP and growing up I never asked what the word retard meant, or why someone was calling my sister a retard (we didn’t go to the same school so that may be part of it). However, I called her retarded all the time, and she called me the same. Now that I am an adult, like many of you have mentioned I too try to educate people about the use of the word retarded and why it’s offensive. Further, even if they felt it was appropriate, there may be someone around who is offended by it. I currently live in Salt Lake City, and since moving here I now say “Oh my gosh” instead of “Oh my God” due to the fact that there is a high population of people here who are offended by the phrase “Oh my God,” and I choose not to take that chance.
I don’t know if this movie will create a new catch phrase or not. My guess is probably not considering this conversation is a small moment in the movie. Whether or not this movie is aimed at making fun of people with mental disabilities, I’m not sure, I haven’t seen it, and after visiting the website and watching the trailer and some clips from the movie, I’m not going to. Regardless of whether or not they use the word retard in the movie, it just looks like a bad movie.
I do know that people will choose to offend others whether they see this movie or not. Your sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, etc. will still meet up against discrimination and fear. I would invite everyone here to focus more on educating those around us and on being pro-active. There are movies out there that help educate, one’s that have been mentioned here, Rain Man, Forrest Gump, I am Sam, The Other Sister, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape … all amazing movies that portrayed people with disabilities in a more positive way. Does this one movie negate all that?
As for Ben Stiller, he’s done some funny movies (ok the only one I’ve seen is Zoolander) and this one doesn’t look like it’s funny. Who knows what he was thinking when he made this film. Probably he wasn’t. I am glad that the tag line was changed … And looking at their website, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of focus on Ben Stiller’s character being famous for being a “retard” in another movie. Perhaps the film is different, I’ll never know. I don’t know Ben Stiller personally, so I can’t comment on his stance; however, I’m pretty sure that he now knows that “retard” is a derogatory term.
August 13th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
I am what is politely referred to as “profoundly mentally retarded.”
I loathe the crap that Hollywood has put out there about a disorder that I have (yeah, “Rain Man” has messed up every job interview I’ve ever been to, thanks) and about fantasies of “curing” us (my mother really figured they could fix me like they fixed Charly in the eponymous film) and I think this is, frankly, more on our side than against it. I’m sick of actors being lauded for “playing retarded”. I’m sick of Hollywood expecting a free pass on its own glaring racism, while we’re at it.
As for hearing “the R word”, hate to say it but I’ve been hearing it since I was very small. People call me that every day. It hurts. It’s a fact of my life, though. I don’t like it, but that’s what many people have seemed to teach their children to be acceptable.
I haven’t seen Tropic Thunder yet, but you can bet your (body part here) that I’m going to. I fully expect the needling to be thorough. I fully expect it to be offensive in its humor. The trouble is, they’re laughing with us and not at us and I really think we should be smart enough to understand this.
(ps: rock on, Nikki.)
August 13th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
John’s post – at the very top of this list, posted on 8-13 @ 6.22 pm … i cannot agree more with John, he is 100% on target.
Advocates of the mentally handicapped (or intellectually challenged, or whatever this week’s PC term happens to be) never seem to respond when actors, musicians, or politicians use the disadvantage of others to further their own interests. Sometimes I think the advocates for these groups are more retarded than the people they claim to be helping.
If you pay attention to this scene in Tropic Thunder, and its context, you will realize that it is not an attack on the mentally challenged. It is a satire of so-called PC actors who take advantage of the disabled.
This is why Robert Downey Jr plays an Australian actor playing a black (oh wait I’m sorry, African American) character. Downey and Stiller represent the attitude taken by self-important Hollywood figures – pretending to serve as public champions for the disadvantaged. Meanwhile, the disabled and their supporters sheepishly go along with it because it doesn’t appear offensive.
If you are concerned about movies like this encouraging people to abuse the intellectually challenged, then you simply haven’t opened your eyes to the fact that movies are inspired by the real world – not the other way around.
If this movie offends you, you have the right to be offended and speak your mind. But before you try to sound informed, you might want to gather a little more data. Do yourself a favor and see a movie called The Ringer starring Johnny Knoxville and count how many REAL handicapped people are in the film making fun of themselves. Then tell me what’s more offensive, Tropic Thunder, or the dozens of films made that portray the handicapped as cuddly little pets.
It’s easy to overlook the immorality of insincerity.
August 13th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
I have cp, and I wasn’t offended by the clip of Stiller and Downey talking about going Full Retard. Damon wayans played a super hero on “In Living Color ” called handiman (aka CP man), Carlos Mencia makes fun of the disabled all the time, and Forest Gump treated disabled people like cute puppies- That’s offensive. But no one complained
When they were talking about going Full Retard, they were making fun of movies like “Radio,” “I am Sam,” and “The Other Sister.” The actors in these movies did go full retard so they could get an award which is offensive.
August 13th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
While I read some of these ridiculous, insensitive, shallow, “freedom of speech”, posts, I as a proud parent blessed with a child with mental retardation, Down Syndrome to be exact, certainly hope your simple little lives are awakened by your insensitive nature when upon some day you are given the opportunity to have a child with MR. I have a good suspicion that your opinion will shift dramatically once you are given the life experience of having your circle of friends suddenly use this word around your child; even better yet, to your child or about your child.
Question, will you keep these people in your circle of friends? Or, will you take a stand for the well being of your child?
August 12th, 2008 at 11:15 am
For those of you who can’t think through this, I’ll break it down for you. . .
I agree that if I (or anyone else) finds this movie to be offensive, then I (or we) shouldn’t go to see it. True! However, for those that do go to see this stupid movie, it will be THEY who will be going to school or have children who grow up with and go to school with my son, who has Down Syndrome. And it’s THOSE people that I wish didn’t see this movie.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:17 am
its called freedom of speech, maybe the disability here is people being so sensitive and whining like retards.
There are more important things in life than protesting a movie that now, will be seen by more people than there would have been.
I personally feel retarded just posting on this stupid board.
August 12th, 2008 at 10:07 am
If you don’t like the movie, don’t see it. Don’t make a stink about it. Much like any other summer fluff film, it’ll go away. Talk it up, and it’s going to be here longer.
If you want to watch it, watch it. Don’t want to watch it, don’t watch it.
Freedom of choice.
“Egad! Someone else has freedoms too? What is this country coming to? Lets crush their freedoms so I can have mine, and control of theirs too!”… the battle cry of the politically correct.
August 12th, 2008 at 9:08 am
You know who’s retarded here? The group that is lashing out at the Movie. Spend your time on creating a cure for “Retardation”.
Instead of lashing out at the Movie, try to come up with an alternative to the part that you feel is offensive – if you do and your solution is feasible, you may look less retarded than the writers who wrote the script.
August 12th, 2008 at 8:27 am
You would think that people had learned from Zoolander that Ben Stiller just IS NOT funny and (quite unbelievably) he’s actually trumped himself with this film. It’s the comedians who stoop to the lowest of levels to get laughs at others expense (Kathy Griffin…to name another) who quite obviously lack real talent.
This type of comedy reminds me of the stuff I pull out to entertain a toddler (“she said ‘Poo Poo!’”). The intellect of those who find this stuff ‘entertaining’ is just plain sad – and those who condone the use for the benefit of a cheap laugh – even sadder.
Even more disturbing is that Downey’s character being a fake black man is making more press then this.
Unbelievably sad.
August 12th, 2008 at 7:08 am
do you realize that your complaints and boycotts and protests will only make people who wouldn’t see that movie, see the movie? you give it hype. example – a porn store opened up in my neighborhood. almost went out of business because of no customers. suddenly, people start protesting, profits double, they added an extension and have been in business for 10 years. i’m not saying people shouldn’t have their opinion, but you do more harm than good to your cause. and god, it would be nice if i could just laugh at something. you all dismiss the fact that everyone is getting it in this movie. and you’re worried about your kids being teased, saying it’s not fair. news flash, getting teased about being different is perfectly normal. anyone who tells me that they never got picked on in school is a LIAR. is it fair? no. is it less fair to someone who has a disability? maybe, depends on how you look at it. and if you think kids in a schoolyard can only make fun of people based on a phrase from a movie, well, congratulations on you perfect childhood.
August 11th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Can we just chalk this up to the numerous politically correct ways to say things? The definition of retarded is:
1. A person considered to be foolish or socially inept.
2. Slow or limited in intellectual or emotional development or academic progress
Though number 2 is offensive, it is a word. Is a word really worth loss of sleep? Sure, it really grinds our gears, but move on. Be the bigger man (or woman). The movie was rated R for a reason, therefore, anyone who is viewing information on the movie (transcripts, previews, etc.) should be over 18 and possibly have come to terms with “words” by that point. Besides, isn’t it up to parents to control what their children view? You don’t see African-Americans lashing out at Downey Jr. for playing an African American. Can’t we all just get along?
August 11th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
in my opinion this has nothing to do with details of the movie, rather it’s the impact that hollywood has on society. lots of people are going to leave the theater thinking it’s alright to say retard because it was in a movie and it’s supposed to be a comedy so it’s funny etc. in the theater one could say “it was in context” but out of the theater it’ll never be in context but will be used nonetheless.
August 11th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Unfortunately explaining things to children is less of a requirement for today’s American parent than it used to be. If a word is so powerful that it rattles the fragile mountain of politically correct refrain we have bathed in for the past 20 years..then we have accomplished nothing.
Cutting words out of our vocabulary doesn’t destroy the ignorance or context in which they were used.. what it does is causes a counter-culture backlash against the very group striving to be treated fairly. I’m not saying its fair, but when a word like “retard” is considered taboo, the sentiment is carried over to the group in which the word refers. Children see there is something wrong with the word, thus there must be something wrong with the group.
Then we go on a witchhunt for words, editing texts and eradicating free speech, all the while missing a grand oppurtunity to dialogue about an important topic. This is what we want to happen. We want to promote open discussion in order to disarm words and get to the root of the issue.. We can’t keep running around telling people what they can and cannot say…but we can use the time given to ask them why they said it, and perhaps educate should we find their context misguided..
Are we really mad because someone used the word “retard”? Is that something to be upset with? Words are meaningless without context. Destroy the word if you must, but remember that bigotry and discrimination cannot be corrected by manipulating diction.
August 8th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
“You’re a sad, whining bunch!”
Obviously you never have, or ever will, explain to your little special needs child why people are calling her a ‘retard.’
Nor will you have to comfort your other child, who comes home crying and hurt because someone has called her little sister a ‘retard.’
I don’t care who the actors are trying to portray, or who they are trying to poke fun at. It’s ignorant and hurtful. Trying to condone it is just as bad.
August 8th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Haha this movies gonna be AWESOME!!!!!
August 8th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
“Never go full retard” is the kind of catchphrase that will be picked up and used again and again. It’s another crude phrase that I will have to hear and try to ignore. It’s another crude phrase that I will someday have to try and explain to my son.
August 8th, 2008 at 8:15 am
Note to Liam who has a big nose, please don’t even try to use that justification. It is not censorship of creative freedoms or hypersensitivity or whining. It is a reaction to a new term being introduced into popular culture to dehumanize a group of people in our society.
There is a context for our anger. I have to fight the school to get them to allow my son to be included in the classroom. There are still schools who are forcing parents to send their children to “state hospitals” instead of school. My IEP team tried to intimidate me by telling me that my son would fall behind in reading if included in the regular classroom. I refused the special ed room and Ethan couldn’t have proved them more wrong.
Hitler first targeted those with disabilities. Our country has a shameful past of sending those with disabilities into institutions where they were (and still are) neglected basic human rights. I’m not calling you a Nazi, but if you don’t understand that there is a difference between your big nose and my child who learns differently–but is still a citizen in our country where “all men are created equal”–then you are illustrating the problem.
August 7th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
So DreamWorks is saying this dialog is funny because the characters are nothing more than buffoons? And also in this DreamWork reality bubble, people in the audience won’t be laughing at the ongoing “retard” gag because that’s not really part of the humor?
It makes it really convenient for everyone, doesn’t it? Don’t laugh at the “retard” stuff because that’s not funny but laugh at the people who are acting like “retards.”
Hmmmm.
August 7th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Come on guys… if it is just to make the character seem “shallow, or stupid” there are other ways…it is just amazing to me that educated adults, find it acceptable to make fun of individuals, based on circumstances beyond said individuals control.
The main problem I see with the movie…is that the whole “going full on retard” will be the newest school-aged catch phrase…I can see it now, my son (now 3 years old) who has Down syndrome… will be getting called “full on retard” on a regular basis…at the expense of you ( already millionaires) making money!
Well happy days to you Ben Stiller( and other endorsers/supporters/sponsors etc), I appreciate you making the job of raising a child with intellectual disabilities/differences unneccesarily difficult. But then again…why am I surprised anymore?
August 6th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Okay, I have a 6 yr old daughter with profound intellectual and physical disabilities and I found this site through a message board for my daughter’s specific diagnosis.
I bet you think you know what I’m going to say but you don’t.
I will not jump on the boycotting bandwagon because I think the point of the movie is being missed.
If there is any group who should boycott this movie, it should be the Shallow, emotionally stunted, and Self Involved Actors Society, The SESSIA Society (hey that works). Does such a group exist? If it did, I’m sure we could find many members in Hollywood that would meet the qualifying criteria. Ben Stiller must think so too. The posted transcript from the movie is obviously making fun of the above mentioned group and not my daughter.
Its so disheartening that such people as those actors portrayed in the movie exist because that caliber of people are the ones that are lacking, not my daughter.
Do I find the idea of the movie funny or more specifically the exchange between the actors as funny…no, I don’t. I won’t go see the movie because of that. But you should take it for what it is. Intellectually disabled individuals have a rough road to tread and their families do too. No matter what, people will say or do things that will wrench your heart a little or sometimes a lot. What you can do is try to educate those you meet about who you are or who your family member really is. You would not make fun of my daughter if you saw her smile and her beautiful blue eyes. There are times for stronger action, but this is not one of them.
August 6th, 2008 at 5:17 am
I agree with zy. The problem is not in the film. It’s in us. Plus this film is meant to shock you. I’m glad it’s out because even though you guys are all complaining about Ben Stiller and how he used the words Retarded — the situation may just shed some light on the issues that inspired to the use of the word in the film… which is how people, Hollywood, society takes the use of this word as an offense, and makes it one. When by now we should all know there’s nothing wrong with being retarded and that being an idiot is not the same thing.
August 6th, 2008 at 1:54 am
My God, you’re a sad whining bunch aren’t you?
zy makes a great point about the movie, but I’m pretty sure you will choose to ignore him.
The main aim of this film is to poke fun at the Hollywood elite and how dim they are. The scenes involving Ben Stiller as Jack, or any scene mentioning the R word, probably adds up to less than 5 minutes of screen time.
Now if you’ll excuse me I’m off to write some angry letters to Steve Martin, make fun of people with big noses will he?
I have to live with a massive conk myself, my friends take the mick all the time, and I’m pretty sure that getting “Roxanne” taken off the shelves will stop any sort of teasing dead in its tracks…..
August 5th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
I am the parent of a seven-year-old child with Down syndrome. I would like to make sure there is a distinction made between DreamWorks Animation SKG and DreamWorks Pictures (Paramount Picture Group).
They are two separate entities, and the two should not be lumped together as one “DreamWorks.” I have had personal dealings with DreamWorks Animations SKG. They have contributed generously to our school’s Special Education fundraisers. They jumped at the chance to support our special needs children in their fundraising efforts!
While I abhor the use of the “R” word in any context, I personally will wait until the movie is released and I review it before I pass judgment on DreamWorks Pictures (Paramount Picture Group).
August 5th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
I’ve seen this movie, and can tell you honestly that this commentary is done without malice. It’s strictly satirical, meant more as an insult to Hollywood and the ostentatious and insensitive nature of exploitation. These characters are buffoons; everything they say is more or less unbelievably idiotic. As to what children will take away from this?
The movie is R-rated for a reason. If they aren’t grown up enough to understand sardonic and satirical humor, then they shouldn’t be in the theater watching this movie.
August 5th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Dreamworks and Ben Stiller have done it again — in spades: check out this article in the NYTimes:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/05/arts/05arts-DREAMWORKSTO_BRF.html?scp=1&sq=dreamworks&st=cse
Does anyone have an email address for these guys? Here is a mail address — they have to be told that this kind of behavior — repeated! — is unacceptable.
DreamWorks SKG
1000 Flower St.
Glendale, CA 91201
Phone: 818-733-7000
August 5th, 2008 at 11:01 am
My husband has CP, and he read the “unofficial transcript” of the scene in question. He feels that if anything, the scene makes Downey Jr. and Stiller’s characters look like “imbeciles”, for being simple-minded themselves. And in mentioning Rain Man and Forrest Gump, Downey Jr.’s character points out the fact that Hollywood has always shied away from featuring characters who are truly disabled; always making sure that these characters had some over-the-top ability or redeeming quality. If anything, my husband was glad that fact was brought to light here, because it’s a valid point that Hollywood (and society in general) usually rewards and accepts film characters who are only “somewhat” disabled.
We were not offended by this scene in any way. People were throwing the “R” word around when I was a kid, they still do today, and will continue to do so regardless of this movie. Pulling the plug on this scene won’t change society’s attitude toward people with disabilities, and the “R” word will continue to be used in schools, etc.
My solution to the problem? When someone uses this offensive word, I take a moment to educate them as to why is should not be used (some don’t like hearing what I have to say, but oh well… at least they’re thinking about it). And our beautiful outgoing daughter never hesitates to correct people when the “R” word is used. A 7-year-old girl telling a 40-year-old man that he should not use the “R” word is the way to begin to change things. She introduces her friends to her Dad, briefly explains what CP is, and tells them that words like the “R” word are mean and inappropriate. That’s one less kid who will stare in wide-eyed fear at people with disabilities, or call someone the “R” word.
August 4th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Am I not mistaken that Stiller co-wrote this screenplay? This is what happens when the studios give nearly full control (eg. writing; directing, etc.) to comics of limited talent.
August 4th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
i thought both those characters were supposed to be idiots… i thought everybody in the movie was idiots. (ok i only saw a trailer)…
and i mean idiot in the sense of “stupid DOES” as Forrest Gump put it, not in another sense.
so, Robert Downey Jr. doesn’t think what his character thinks, and same for Ben Stiller. they are making fun of what those characters think… i hope.
i mean, RD didn’t really get his skin permanently dyed either, right? and he doesn’t think he’s black, right?
it’s possible that the joke is that BS (nice initials, right?!) was making fun of a guy who would try to get an oscar by a ’sympathetic’ portrayal of a guy with an MR label, and at the same time is hating on people with intellectual disabilities. and for all i know RD’s character thinks he’s become black while staying racist, or something.
of course… even if what i said above is true, the viewing public that doesn’t think through all the layers will not get this. that’s the part that stinks.
August 4th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
I am sure Downey didn’t understand disabilities as he did not understand his own difficulties with his own disease of drug addiction. If he would have been able to watch those movies (“Rain Man” and “Forrest Gump”) in his full capacities, he would have seen in those movies that those people had gifts. Those people did not have disabilities but were very capable people that needed to find their niches.
I think the world of Hollywood needs to have training about disabilities. I guess he also doesn’t understand that we buy movie tickets. The people with disabilities have higher IQ’s than and greater intelligence than he does. Because they do buy tickets and they are on these sites too. The Autism world has heard his comments and I am sure the other disabilities organizations should take offense such as ARC.
Downey should get on the tube and start back tracking fast because he has made another grave mistake.
August 4th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Does anyone know how I can contact Mr. Stiller directly? I WAS a big Ben Stiller fan. Never again. He will be forever banned from my house and anyone living in my house will be forbidden to contribute to his inane drivel.
August 3rd, 2008 at 10:07 pm
My stomach is in knots. What am I supposed to tell my little girl when she asks me why people call her the “R” word? It’s times like this that make raising my little girl so heartbreaking. I don’t understand why you think it’s so funny.
Every movie that I have seen lately uses the word, but to actually portray, and make fun of is unbelievable.
You have no idea what it does to me.
August 2nd, 2008 at 11:42 am
Unfortunately my lack of financial support for this film will not have the impact on my teenage daughter’s life that this film will.
August 2nd, 2008 at 10:06 am
The genre that is in-your-face fourth-grade bathroom humor is here to stay. Hence the success of the Judd Apatow juggernaut that brought us movies such as “Knocked Up” and “Super Bad.”
Stiller’s dumb jokes are commercially viable with young men and when Stiller wears old, someone will replace him to carry on that genre, making movies about vomit, farting, nose-picking, big boobs, jerking off, and, yes, ‘retards.’
They will always be among us. Thankfully, we can choose not to financially support them.
August 2nd, 2008 at 10:00 am
Hurtful, shocking, and sad. Truly sad. I think there’s supposed to be a point in there, some witticism about something? But it’s lost on me. I just see this language as hurtful.
August 2nd, 2008 at 9:30 am
I guess it will be only a few weeks before, in addition to having to endure hearing other children tell each other that they are “so retarded” et al., my son will also begin hearing them tell each other that they have “gone full retard.” Thank you, Ben, for introducing that gem into the lexicon.
My “Zoolander” DVD went into the trash can last night. I’ve always liked Ben Stiller; now he just makes me ill.
August 2nd, 2008 at 4:56 am
WOW, I had no clue that the movie had lines like that in it… and to think, my husband and I were talking about going to see it. Thank you for posting this!
August 1st, 2008 at 5:11 pm
I have a sense of humor and I see they are trying to be funny but this is just grossly insensitive — shockingly so. And this idea that “full retard” is a person/quality/”thing” of no attraction, no endearment, no value to anyone or anything perpetuates our social and collective lack of understanding and alienation of those who are seen as “different” or “abnormal” for whatever reason.
It is humor that perpetuates stigma and intolerance on a subconscious level; tapping into our discomfort with what we don’t understand. I don’t think they are intending to do this, but they are and that is where I find myself feeling sad, like Terri.
August 1st, 2008 at 11:41 am
I have been back here 3 times today and the news about this movie isn’t getting any better. I don’t even know where to begin. Hollywood has a huge role in setting culture because of their visibility and prevalence… I doubt that they would ever make a movie bandying about the words that other populations find oppressive — I doubt that even this movie is full of racial, ethnic, sexuality-related slurs …
I am waffling between being profoundly sad and utterly furious.