Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)

Let’s take a little stroll through the Jake Ehrlich archives and go back to the 80s. What a decade that was for films! Stand by Me, The Terminator, The Lost Boys, Aliens, Die Hard, Platoon, Top Gun, and many others. Even some of my favorite movies are from the 80s. And now, out of all the films that I’ve seen from this decade, I get to include Good Morning, Vietnam. Growing up, I was always a fan of Robin Williams as he was a very special part of my childhood. I even enjoyed watching some of his films that weren’t his best. Bottom line, he was the man. He made me even more happy than my own personal interests (which barely do much for me anyway). I will say, I am kind of ashamed that it took me this long to watch the movie since I always got a kick of anything with Robin Williams in it but at least I finally got to this. And I have to admit, this movie did not disappoint. I can’t even remember the last time I was as engrossed in a story as I was with this one. I have a lot to cover so let’s get to it.

     The story is set in 1965 Vietnam and is based on the experiences of Adrian Cronauer, a DJ who is assigned to the U.S. Armed Services radio station in Vietnam to bring a little comedy back into the lives of the soldiers. Williams plays this part perfectly and you get to see him shine as both a comedic genius and a serious actor. I don’t know much about the real Adrian Cronauer, but I do know that most of the radio broadcasts were improvised and Williams kept me engaged, smiling, and laughing throughout these parts. And I must say, I love a good improvisation, especially when it came to what Williams could do. It actually made me a little jealous since I’m more quiet and can barely form my own words right on the spot, but that doesn’t matter. I still enjoyed it and that’s about all that matters. The movie also features a strong supporting cast with Forest Whitaker as Private Edward Garlick, Cronauer’s aid and friend who is good-natured, by-the-book, and has an appreciation for Cronauer’s style. There’s also Tom T. Tran as Tuan, a young Vietnamese boy who Cronauer befriends and Chintara Sukapatana as Trinh, a Vietnamese girl who Cronauer falls for and is Tuan’s sister, who both give great performances as well. The rest of the cast includes Bruno Kirby as Lt. Steven Hauk, a humorless superior, J.T. Walsh as Sgt. Major Dickerson, the commander of Cronauer’s radio station, and Noble Willingham, the commander of the radio services and a fan of Cronauer. One thing that amazes me about this movie is how it balances both comedy and the horrors of the war in Vietnam. Before I saw this, I wasn’t sure something like that could be done but they sure found a way to make that possible. One minute you’re smiling and having a good laugh and the next minute the movie snaps you back into the cruel reality of war. That is what makes this a truly powerful film.

     I can’t believe it’s been ten years without Robin Williams. It still feels unreal to me. He really brought his A game to this film and it takes a lot to make me both laugh and feel emotional at the same time but he was incredible at achieving that. I have so much more to say about this movie but I feel like whatever I say won’t do it justice. Not to mention, I don’t want to drag my thoughts out any longer than I probably need to. This was a very unforgettable film experience for me and I think it will be for everyone else who watches it as well. As a fan of Robin Williams and cleverly written stories, I give this movie a 10 out of 10. If you’re a fan of Williams as well and if you’re looking for a film with a riveting storyline, then this one is for you.