Blu-rays for the weekend: Best of Ben Stiller
Following confirmation that sporting smash hit Dodgeball will get a sequel, we take a look back at some of comedy heavyweight Ben Stiller’s recent films, all available on Blu-ray now.
Dodgeball
Pitted against each other in a winner-takes-all contest, Vince Vaughn and Ben Stiller star as rival gym owners who battle it out to defend their gyms and their reputations in this over-the-top underdog tale where Dodgeball is the sport of champions. The BD also features deleted and extended scenes, a hilarious gag reel and audio commentary with Stiller and Vaughn that only adds to the comedy value of the film as a whole.
Tropic Thunder
Stiller takes to the director’s chair for his action-packed comedy which pokes fun at the back-stabbing, big bucks world of the war movie. Stiller stars alongside Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black (along with Tom Cruise, who delivers one of the finest cameos in recent years) in this over-the-top outing which sees a gang of actors dropped into a Vietnam movie set, only to find out it’s actually guerrilla territory inhabited by ruthless drug lords and illegal arms dealers. The BD extras serve up some interesting insights, including commentary tracks from the writer, producer and production designers as well as a bonus one from Stiller, Black and Downey Jr. Additional features on pyrotechnics, make-up, set design, deleted scenes and gag reels complete the BD.
Madagascar
In this computer-animated classic which spawned two sequels, Ben Still lends his voice talents as Alex the Lion, a resident at the Central Park Zoo in New York, who is keen to explore the outside world. But they get more than they bargained for when, following an escape plot by a gang of enterprising penguins, they end up washed up on the shores of Madagascar. But how will they cope in a strange land after years separated from their natural habitats? The A-list cast includes Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith and Sacha Baron Cohen, in a quotable comedic caper for the whole family.
What are your favourite Ben Stiller movies? Do you do a good Blue Steel impression? Do you love to Meet The Parents? Let us know your thoughts in the comments box below.
