Jack Black Talks About That Time a Water Buffalo Threw Him On The Set of "Tropic Thunder"
We know Jack Black, for sure! From rocking out in Movies to hilarious talk show appearances, his wild persona just oozes pure, wacky fun. But there's one memory on the set of Tropic Thunder that takes the cake for, let's just say, intense, adrenaline-pumping excitement.
What could possibly throw the rockstar of the movie world off his game? Turns out a water buffalo was that one challenge that almost gave Black the "death flash before your eyes." Think a water buffalo with a mission, and you've got Jack Black stuck in his skivvies, sweaty from the heat of the scene, and attempting to ride this beast of burden into the movie scene.
The Tropic Thunder Set Story: That's What We Call a Wild Time!
While a lot of fans were distracted by the blackface controversy (ouch!), it's hard not to get excited for the over-the-top comedy of the movie. We're talking those iconic "Let's Get It On" music scene moments (gotta love those dance moves!), and "I’m a dude playing a dude disguised as another dude."
What makes this water buffalo incident so insane is the timing. You’ve got this whole "actors-stranded-in-the-jungle" scene playing out, and we're behind the scenes with Jack Black freaking out as a Water Buffalo is totally losing it. He thought his life was flashing before his eyes! I mean, who can blame him?! He managed to somehow land perfectly, and if there’s one thing we know, it's that the universe looks after those who are absolutely bonkers.
Tropic Thunder's Legacy: Controversial Comedy
It's worth noting that Tropic Thunder is kind of a mixed bag these days. A lot of fans love the absurd humor and the whole over-the-top approach, but they are quick to acknowledge how offensive some of the elements of the film are in today's more culturally sensitive world. This, however, didn’t keep the movie from becoming a big success in terms of the money and critically. Tropic Thunder still gets attention, but sometimes for the wrong reasons!
I wonder if those types of wild moments from the set, like Jack’s almost-death encounter with that furious water buffalo, happened more often while they were filming! It’s definitely some wild, out-of-the-box entertainment. But let’s not forget how risky some of those comedic choices can be. You’ve gotta know what you're doing to pull it off! And if you’re thinking a sequel will ever happen - remembering that Jack Black constantly jokes with Ben Stiller about this sequel, it seems like we’re all in for a long, long wait.
From the Set of "Tropic Thunder": That Water Buffalo Was Something Else
That water buffalo on set was so furious they cut Jack Black off the camera before they even got into the scene! What I found funny, was how fast Ben Stiller’s instinct was to go "Alright, we’ll try again. And Jack, get back on the water buffalo. I'm pretty sure the last thing he was thinking was “What could be wrong? He's just a big cow!” I wouldn’t want to try this for an encore, that's for sure. This sounds a lot less like a wild party and a lot more like a "get away before things get worse!” scenario for Jack.
And we are here to celebrate all of those fun, over-the-top movie moments, including this insane scene from "Tropic Thunder"! We all know those wild actors – but you have to really applaud how Jack pulled off getting that upset! Maybe that’s how he stays in character; he gives all that crazy passion, making his roles feel incredibly genuine. Who wouldn’t love a crazy set story like this? These are moments to live for. They show us that sometimes the real stories are behind the camera and not necessarily in the screen!
