‘Tropic Thunder’

 The film — which focuses on the making of a big-budget Vietnam War blockbuster — has generated controversy for Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of a spoiled method actor who darkens his skin to play an African-American character and Ben Stiller’s performance as an action star who tried to score an Oscar by playing a mentally challenged farm boy. The thing is, within the context of the movie, both of these risky scenarios yield big laughs. “Tropic Thunder” has its problems — it’s a little too long and the last half unfortunately emphasizes action over laughs — but ignorant offensiveness isn’t one of them. 1 hr. 47 mins. Rated R.

‘Mirrors’

Alexandre Aja’s follow-up to his “The Hills Have Eyes” remake casts Kiefer Sutherland and Paula Patton as a married couple who are pursued by evil spirits that access our reality through mirrors. Talk about a movie star’s worst nightmare! 1 hr. 50 mins. Rated R.

‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’
 
 After the darkness that pervaded the last Star Wars outing, “Revenge of the Sith,” the light-hearted tone of the animated feature “The Clone Wars” is something of a relief. This decidedly kid-friendly cartoon thankfully ignores the prequels’ dull Anakin/Padme love story and interstellar politics for an action-oriented story that finds Anakin and Obi-Wan on a mission to rescue Jabba the Hutt’s infant son from the clutches of the evil Count Dooku. The silliness that pervades “The Clone Wars” will probably upset older “Star Wars” fans, but kids should have a good time. 1 hr. 39 mins. Rated PG.
 
Ethan Alter | McClatchy-Newspapers