Actors Thunder onto Marine Base for Movie Screening

Ben Stiller, Robert Downey and Jack Black visit Marine base for movie screening.

ByABC News
February 18, 2009, 11:59 AM

August 6, 2008— -- CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — The only thing missing was "Ride of the Valkyries" blasting from the three helicopters as they swooped in to land at the military base.But their arrival did not herald "Apocalypse Now;" it brought "Tropic Thunder."

Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black choppered into the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base on Sunday evening for a special USO screening of the comedy, about selfish, pampered actors who go overseas to make a war movie and accidentally provoke real jungle warlords. It opens Aug. 13.

It's rare for A-list stars to accompany an early free screening at a base — and unheard of for them to arrive in such dramatic fashion.

"Put it this way, it hasn't happened in the year-and-a-half since I've been here," said Marine spokesman Lt. Tom Garnett.

Stiller, who also directed and co-wrote the film, wanted to screen his work for the troops early because it mocks actors "who get everything wrong" about combat.

With Black and Downey by his side, Stiller told the service members and their families packed into the 1,300-seat theater at the base that he was inspired by actors from war movies who brag about the intensity of their movie-rehearsal boot camp.

"It seemed ironic to me, because I thought the fake boot camp was nothing like a real boot camp," Stiller said, drawing cheers before adding with mock arrogance. "It's about 10 times harder, you guys … From experience, I can tell you firsthand."

Stiller went on to explain: "The idea for this movie is, what happens when a bunch of actors get stuck out in the jungle in a real-world situation? Because us actors, most of us are, what, wussies?"

"Speak for yourself, Ben," Downey quipped.

Before the film began, a solemn video of the "Star-Spangled Banner" played on the screen, part of the theater's standard opening. It was an incongruous intro to the raunchy, R-rated comedy, but the audience didn't seem to mind.

During the show, the actors stood in the wings, watching the audience watch their movie, laughing when they laughed.