LOS ANGELES -- He's no Billy Bob Thornton, but Robert Downey Jr. can still give good snark.

Case in point: A recent exchange between the Iron Man actor and a reporter at a Beverly Hills hotel.

The event: A news conference for his new movie, The Soloist, in which Jamie Foxx, who was sitting alongside Downey, co-stars as a schizophrenic street musician.

The subject: Tropic Thunder, the Hollywood satire in which Downey's method thespian advised a colleague to never go "full retard" while portraying a mentally-challenged character.

You can probably see where this is going, but here's a recap anyway:


Reporter: "What do you think (Tropic Thunder's) Lincoln O'Siris would think of Jamie's performance in this?"

Robert Downey Jr.: "Next question. By the way I could just say that to all them."

Reporter: "Do you think he'd approve?"

Downey Jr.: "I have no idea how to even begin answering that question. And by the way, I want to have a good time. I want to have a great time because that one just tied my f---ing shoelaces together right off the bat. What else you got?"

Second Reporter: "So I'll kiss your ass and maybe it'll be good."

Foxx: "Wow. Wow."

Downey Jr.: "Yeah, I don't think that's the answer either. Yeah -- you do your thing and I'll do mine."