Cruise's Man Hands and Tomfoolery Steals Thunder
Merie Weismiller W, Dreamworks Pictures
There's not much room for Tom Cruise on the posters for Tropic Thunder, with Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. in the way. But he steals the movie with his surprising turn as a fat, bald studio executive. Stiller, who also directed, gives Cruise full credit for shedding his studly image.
"His idea was for this character, and he had read the script," says Stiller. "He said, 'I want really big hands playing this guy.' I said, 'Really? Big hands?' He had these hands made, and then I said, 'Well, it'd be really cool if you were bald too.' Then we did this makeup test where he got bald."
Cruise's character screams at his subordinates by videophone and dances to celebrate his power plays. "He started dancing in the makeup test," Stiller continues. "He just said, 'It'd be interesting if this guy danced.' He started dancing. I was loving it. I loved watching him do this thing, so he started dancing in the makeup test, and then we went back and wrote up this idea that he's dancing in the movie. I liked it a lot."
And stay for the film's credits to see Cruise give the Step Up kids a serving. "I thought, Oh, we can do it in the end credits too," says Stiller. "I asked him if he'd be up for dancing in the end credits and he said, 'Yeah, let's do it.' "
Tropic Thunder opens Aug. 13.
The Big Picture
Change of Address Melrose—who needs it? Ashlee looks happy to hang on the swanky streets of Beverly Hills
More PhotosMost Commented
- Would Kristen Work With Rob Outside of Twilight? (863)
- Rob and Kristen Stroll Arm in Arm! (862)
- Robsten Begin Publicity Tour Together—Kinda (607)
- Rob Pregnant! Taylor Never Stripping Again! And Other Twilight Tall Tales (524)
- Inside Rob and Kristen's Stunning Euro Slobberfest! (485)
- Jensen's Engaged! So Is Jackles in Trouble? (435)
- Fall TV SOS: Save One Endangered New Show (418)
- Overworked Rob Needs a Break! (366)
- Rob and Kristen Keep the Mystery Going (315)
- Blab Blab Blab: Kellan Hearts His Big Fame (300)
Top 10 Stories
- Balloon Boy Parents Admit to Hoax to Avoid Jail
- Taylor Swift Topples Carrie and Kenny for Best in Show at CMA Awards
- Paparazzo Plays Mike Tyson's Punch-Out
- Ron Livingston Happily Married, We Presume
- Adam Lambert: Dating? No. Clubbing? Yes!
- Victim of Horrifying Chimp Attack Shows Face for the First Time on Oprah
- Would You Like to Be a Porn Star Now, Carrie Prejean?
- Rihanna and Chris Brown Still in Sync, Prepare to Face Off Once More
- Does Up Have the Right Stuff? See Which Toons Are Oscar Eligible
- What's Black and White and Weird All Over? Nicolas Cage's Mime Stalker
Fashion Police
Back in BusinessNicole's rocking fabulous, bold colors again—on her bod and her head—hallelujah!
More Photos
Latest Movie Reviews
Get Your E! News Now
16 Comments
-
Show the next 1 - 0 of 16 comments
Now loading...