The Greatest Beer Run Ever

Great comedy 😃 action movie

War and Adventure

Do you ever get this feeling when someone is being too nice to you and they he is starting to ask things from you and you are thinking to yourself "oh so here is the catch". Well this is what this movie is all about. The main character was built really nice, he had no wife, no future, all of his friends aren't near him- he has nothing to lose. He is the perfect guy for the mission of delivering beer in a war zone. He is a failure at his home and no one is appreciating him, and in the war zone he is getting gratitude and have a sense of purpose. It was shown beautifully in the movie and I really liked it. Then, somewhere in the second half, it stops revolving about this interesting plot and the protagonist journey about having a purpose and meaning, and having a will to do more with his life, and it starts revolving about characters that feels like commentators from the news that deliver talking points against the war. The most absurd moment of the movie was when the Vietcong killed people randomly on the street and the protagonist and the characters around him were blaming America for it. It was a 9/10 for the first half and 0 for the second half.

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source: The Greatest Beer Run Ever

It's really hard to tell a story about the Vietnam War. Movies like We Were Soldiers are too heavy on action and mostly one-sided flag waving for some and films like Platoon and Apocalypse Now use Vietnam as the War is Hell backdrop for cautionary tales. The Greatest Beer Run Ever tries to tell be a story that shows well-intended Americans who want to support the troops while navigating negative press and protests. The good: Zac Efron is really good at what he's doing here. He's a charming oaf one moment and a sincere patriot the next and he deserves a lot of credit for keeping this interesting for 2 hours. The story of Chickie Donoghue. I was ready to put this as a negative because it's so far-fetched and idiotic, I couldn't believe a screenwriter came up with it. The fact it's a real story changes all that and makes it that much more amazing. The bad: The writing. Outside of Efron's Donoghue, none of the other characters are that great. Bill Murray and Russell Crowe turn in pretty standard parts as the old neighborhood bar owner and the grizzled war correspondent and I really only remember that because I recognized the actors. The rest of the cast are this neighbor, that neighbor, this neighborhood kid at war, etc. The confusing tone. In one scene, Chickie is surprised to find his childhood buddy is not excited to see him when he has them called out into live fire so he can surprise him with a beer. Shortly after, Donoghue is avoiding a CIA agent setting a trap for him. In the end, the hijinks-filled trip through a war zone filled with laughs and news of dead classmates ends with Chickie realizing the war in Vietnam isn't as honorable as he thought. This movie could have been an interesting story of impossible actions or it could have been a strong reminder that war "over there" has effects "back here." Instead, it tries to be both and ends up being neither.

Its a really good story. The movie is just so-so and I think really misfired on some poignant moments. I am talking about the journey this guy took and those incidents that left a mark. Not horrors of war type moments, but those moments of realization that his assumptions were wrong. I just dont think Farrelly has the feel for telling that type of story. The message is of course one we have seen over and over, and told much better in other films. You can mix humor and drama very well in a story, its done all the time. Farelly however seems to dull down the humor and reign in the drama so that neither have any particularly satisfying moments. I mean come on, this guy went to Vietnam during the war to pass out beer. You want to know more about that, but this movie doesnt tell that story well.

I watched this as Monday Mystery Movie at my theatre and I think some people were expecting(hoping) for Amsterdam so when this started playing they sighed in disappointment. Bit harsh. There's a lot of funny bits spread throughout the movie especially in the beginning. However, unless the Vietnam war means something to you, it's really not as moving in the beginning, it starts with several emotional scenes that assume you already care for the characters or the Vietnamese war itself(as an African, I didn't so much). Also, the acting starts out badly, especially from the sister, and after 'Gold' I thought Zac Efron was picking roles to show his acting abilities beyond just the "pretty boy" roles. For the first hour or so I was really just waiting for whenever the action starts, because it felt like a road trip through a war zone without really understanding the gravity of war as it's seen through Chickie's perspective. Russell Crowe was by far the stand out in his role and dominated every scene he was in. It's a long movie so as it progresses you start to get more invested in it, not just the beer run but the war; but because it's so long it's almost too little too late, emphasis on almost. The second half of the movie is much better if you wait it out, with huge intendment on politicians lying to keep their war in good public light. It's however not as moving and generic at the start. Being based on a true story is really what helps the message hold it's weight for the most part, and Efron is probably what's going to attract a lot of viewers. It could've been better, still a decent movie in the end it just takes too long to find it's stride so it rewards those who wait. Third act of the movie is probably 8/10 for me, much much better towards the end so that might leave you with a more flattering impression than it deserves.

While not the "greatest" movie ever, I enjoyed watching it. Efron, despite the critics' opinions does a decent if not outstanding job as "Chickee". The supporting cast including Russell Crowe as a cynical war photographer are all very good. I was also impressed by Ruby Serkis as Chickee's anti-war sister. When Chickee reaches Vietnam, there is plenty of commentary on the bravery of the soldiers fighting there along with the foolish decisions of politicians who sent them there. Also stars Bill Murray as the "Colonel" who runs Chickee's neighborhood bar. Recommended - 7/10. Also, be sure to watch the follow-up conversation with Zac Efron, the real "Chickee" Donohue, and the director Peter Farrelly.

I saw this at my local theatre as a $5 mystery movie. I was blown away. The movie is based on a true story about a man who wanted to show thanks for his soldier buddies in Vietnam. He wanted to show thanks by delivering beer to his friends over 10,000 miles away in a war zone. There were many funny scenes in the movie and many serious ones. The balance of political view points were well balanced and represented the time very well. After the movie I ran into a Vietnam veteran who saw the movie and was in tears because some of the scenes sent his mind back in time to when he was an ammo troop. My only criticism is there should be maybe a warning to combat veterans regarding the graphic and emotional nature of some of the scenes. There were triggering moments in the film for combat vets. Overall a great adventure film about a guy who was sick of the media hating on our country and a guy who was sick of all the loser anti-American protests of the time. He just wanted to show thanks by delivering beer to his buddies in war and risked his own life.