WESTWOOD, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (AUGUST 11, 2008) REUTERS -
 Hollywood's comedy A-list took to the red carpet in Los Angeles for
the premiere of "Tropic Thunder" on Monday (August 11). The film,
directed, co-written, and produced by Ben Stiller features a high powered cast
including Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black, Nick Nolte. The movie is a film
within a film that takes aim at the inflated egos of Hollywood. 
    The film is far from controversy free. Robert Downey Jr. plays a white
actor playing a black man with dark make-up, venturing into the racially
charged territory of blackface.
    Another sticking point brought dozens of protesters outside the
premiere. Advocacy groups for the disabled have called for a national boycott
of the film, citing a negative portrayal of people with intellectual
disabilities. 
    The groups take offence at the repeated use of "retard" to
refer to a character, Simple Jack - a role played by Stiller's
"Thunder" character in a film within the film.
    When asked about the controversy, Ben Stiller says it was never his
intention. 
    "I totally respect their point of view," Stiller said.
"All I can says is making the movie and the multiple screenings, the
hundreds of screenings, we were really aware of the feedback coming to us from
audiences. I'm sorry that they have this opinion. I know that the people
organizing this had not seen the film. I think that in the context of the
movie it's really clear where we were coming from. It was not meant to offend
anybody. When you're making an R- rated comedy sometimes that happens. But it
was really clear, in our point of view, where our humour was coming from, and
it was at the expense of the actors."
    Among those in attendance at the premiere was Tom Cruise and Katie
Holmes. Cruise has a cameo in the film where he plays a fat, balding, dork
film backer that dances. It's a role that many are talking about. 
    The film opens on Wednesday, August 13th.