I’m not too keen on dipping my toe into this particular powder keg, so let’s go with just-the-facts-ma’am, shall we?

Tropic Thunder is a new comedy that opens today. In said film, the word “retard” is used multiple times.

There is now a national movement to boycott the film, led by the National Down Syndrome Congress and Special Olympics, among others. The Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas is spearheading a local boycott, with a protest happening today at 6pm at the Regal Westgate Theater (4477 S. Lamar).

DSACT president Lori Tullos Barta said this in a press release issued this today: “Stiller and company are no different than actors Michael Richards, Mel Gibson, Isaiah Washington, or Charlie Sheen, who have been very publicly criticized for using derogatory comments against minority groups including African-Americans, Jews, and gays. That it is still permissible to use the “R” word against a portion of our population who cannot defend themselves is incomprehensible.”

For more information about DSACT, go here. You can read Marjorie Baumgarten’s review of Tropic Thunder here.

On a totally unrelated note, how cute has Undeclared‘s Jay Baruchel gotten?

This article appears in August 8 • 2008.

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A graduate of the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas, Kimberley has written about film, books, and pop culture for The Austin Chronicle since 2000. She was named Editor of the Chronicle in 2016; she previously served as the paper’s Managing Editor, Screens Editor, Books Editor, and proofreader. Her work has been awarded by the Association of Alternative Newsmedia for excellence in arts criticism, team reporting, and special section (Best of Austin). The Austin Alliance for Women...