Did you ever notice how Beavis and Butthead was often a TV show about two guys watching TV? The videos they were watching became the stories within the story. That's the theme we're shooting for this week. We're peeling back the layers of a handful of recent trailers to get at the story within the story.

Tropic Thunder
During the production of an extremely troubled Vietnam movie, a handful of actors are sent into the jungles of southeast Asia to inject realism into the flick. Things don't go quite as planned and our heroes, including Ben Stiller (who also directs), Jack Black and Robert Downey, Jr., find themselves in actual combat with guerrilla forces. Basically, this is the plot of Three Amigos as seen through an Apocalypse Now lens, but this looks like it could be really funny. I can't decide whether or not Robert Downey, Jr.'s performance as a white actor pretending to be black is going to be hilarious or just embarrassing, but it being Downey I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Elisabeth posted about this one as well as the age-restricted teaser trailer, and like her I want to know what the heck Stiller is doing with those baby pandas, though he does appear to be channeling Zoolander in that shot.

It always amazes me how far in advance a studio can plan its release schedule. I understand that really, really big tentpole blockbusters need to reserve certain dates, as Paramount just did with its fourth installment of Indiana Jones. Some weekends, particularly those in the summertime, are very desirable. But considering that most of the films Universal has just penciled in for 2008 haven't even begun shooting yet, it seems a bit silly to think about when to expect to see them in theaters. Nevertheless...

Here the studio's list of announced release dates for 2008:

• March 28: Wanted - Chris first told us about this comic book adaptation, the Hollywood debut of Russian director Timur Bekmambetov starring Morgan Freeman and James McAvoy, back in November. As far as I know, it hasn't begun filming yet.
  
• June 13: The Incredible Hulk - They're still casting for this comic book reboot. So far we only know that Dominic Purcell is not playing the lead. Chris already mentioned this was set for June 27, but Universal has moved it up to avoid competition with Disney/Pixar's Wall-E.
  
• July 11: The Mummy 3 - Jessica just told us that the cast is still negotiating this one. Erik spoke directly to Brendan Fraser, who didn't seem to know exactly what was going on yet. It may begin production this summer.
  
• July 18: Mamma Mia! - Erik gave us the news a month ago that the Broadway hit will be adapted to film. A day later he added that Meryl Streep would star. Warner Bros.' The Dark Knight is also scheduled for this date, so while Mom and Sis are enjoying all the ABBA music, you and Dad can be next door watching Batman.
  
• August 1: Hellboy 2: The Golden Army - We've been hearing about this sequel for years, and for awhile Mark was issuing updates around the clock. Now it looks like Del Toro will begin shooting this Spring.
  
• November 14: The Wolf Man - Now that Scott has pointed out it has a director, another of Universal's monster movie reboots is good to go.