User Reviews

While he’s certainly enjoyed his share of transcendent roles, there’s a big part of the Robin Williams filmography that can be boiled down to “let’s just stick this guy in a scenario and let him ad-lib his way through a themed standup routine.” That’s one of his rare gifts, something worth celebrating, but it can also lead to some lazy filmmaking. In this entry, he plays a brash, boisterous morning DJ, recruited to lighten the mood among troops stationed in overseas action, but that often seems like an excuse to get him rolling in front of a mic and watch the fireworks. Although his character is based on a real person who did indeed host a daily radio hour for the boys, their two paths quickly diverge. In the name of drama, the cinematic equivalent gets loud, challenges the rule book, butts heads with supervisors and discovers there’s another side to every “official” story. Williams delivers a lot of heart with his humor, rich dashes of humanity that make his roles deeper than just a manic circus, but these notes are often secondary. Good Morning, Vietnam is guilty of over-indulging his radio performances, relishing their rapid-fire punchlines while losing touch with the narrative. Until he finds a local girl to swoon over, Robin’s studio act feels disconnected from the American occupation, as if he were broadcasting from half a world away. This detachment isn’t always without merit - there’s a great scene near the climax where he spontaneously performs for a **** convoy and is overwhelmed to realize what his silly show means to the G.I.s - but it often doesn’t feel so intentional. After he locates a love interest (shaky though it may be), the wayward DJ engulfs himself in Saigon flavor and we get a better idea of what life was like for both the shell shocked locals and the unwelcome airman in a strange town. We don’t see much of a spark from the couple, but their clumsy, unlikely courtship finally gets the plot moving and gives Williams a chance to show his sensitive side. Dating in conservative, repressed 1960s Vietnam was a very different proposition to its US counterpart, and though he’s patient and understanding, our protagonist struggles to grasp its nuances. This is where the film is at its most thoughtful, using cultural disconnect on an individual level as a metaphor for broader misunderstandings in a political sense. Many of its twists are telegraphed, but that doesn’t make the message any less pertinent. With a relatively simple plot and an even-handed sense of morality, Good Morning, Vietnam leans on its star’s jumbo-sized personality to inject color. He delivers that, bouncing around the broadcast booth like a runaway super ball, even if it doesn’t always feel relevant to the greater message. Its heart’s in the right place, and Williams is as mesmerizing as ever, but the big picture is a little light and spacious.

Robin Williams' performance is outstanding, to the extent that even though the story lacks some dramatic elements, the entire piece can still radiate a sense of freshness like the air after rain.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

This film is a comedy set in wartime and based, very fictionally, on the life of a real person, radio announcer Adrian Cronauer, who spent some time in South Vietnam, in Saigon, in the service of USAF Military Radio. Despite the truthful bases, most of the things we see in the movie are fiction, as Cronauer himself mentioned. However, without this fictional component, I doubt the film would have been as successful. The film's story begins with Cronauer's arrival in Saigon to take up a radio job. He will soon capture the soldiers' sympathies, with his contagious joy and a rebellious, sharp and irresistible sense of humor. However, it also becomes evident that he will not be easy to control, and high ranks will have difficulties in dealing with him and imposing the limits they think he must respect. At the same time, he will socialize with the Vietnamese, learn local customs and even teach English. But the enemy is subversive, and not even in the city they can know where he will attack, or where he will be. Despite being a comedy, the film does not treat war lightly. There are several moments when we feel that danger lurks, and enemy agents can be anywhere. Despite the way Cronauer wins friends, the grim faces of the population reveal the prevailing antipathy, understandable among a population that feels that their land has been occupied by foreigners who, supposedly, came to help them defend themselves, but who then treat them with suspicion, when not with violence. The film paints an acidic portrayal of the war in Vietnam, with cruelties committed by both sides. By the way, there is one scene that is particularly critical, and where war scenes are accompanied by the Louis Armstrong song “What a Wonderful World”. To be more ironic, it's impossible. Robin Williams was the ideal man to bring Cronauer to life, and the right person to revive his sense of humor. With this character, Williams was able to let his imagination run wild and invent the craziest puns and jokes. It is not by chance that the film became a classic of the 80s comedy, and one of the most memorable films of this actor's career. With him, we have an excellent Forest Whitaker, a great Robert Wuhl and an obnoxious, but equally funny, Bruno Kirby. The film also features splendid collaborations by Tom T. Tran, Noble Willingham and J.T. Walsh. Technically, the film doesn't have any major demerits, but it knows how to keep a low profile, leaving humor to take center stage. Even so, I think it's fair to highlight the exquisite quality of the visual and special effects and the exceptional soundtrack, with a series of songs that we can easily recognize. Set in a military context, the film has good props, costumes and sets that automatically transport us to that environment and period. Finally, a word of praise for the cinematography and editing.

This is quite a well known film, one I'd been aware of for many years but hadn't actually sat down to watch in full before. I can see why people like it, as it has an interesting mix of both comedy and drama, being almost painfully serious in some scenes and very irreverantly, did he just say that? type silly in others. This won't be to everyones tastes but I found it pretty entertaining. The story is pretty easy to follow, if a bit predictable perhaps, although im led to believe that its based on a true story, which is interesting but I don't know enough details to be able to ascertain to what extent this is a true story. I found it to be an entertaining watch - its surprising that Adrian is allowed to stay as DJ for so long, given his flagrant shrugging off of the rules. It'd be true to say that the story is a bit worthy perhaps - the local eccentric rebellious American sees what the pompous authority figures don't see, the human side to war and decides to arm the local community, tries to warn people about whats going on but is challenged and complained about. Obviously he's coming from things at a different perspective than others - he's an underdog character, which seems to be a typically popular character trait when it comes to American films and perhaps in American society in general. I have to say, I did find myself rooting for Aidan - he's irreverant and pushes the boundaries but, of course, he doesn't mean any real harm and is shown to be very popular with the troops, improving the morale. The main plus point being that he tries to arm the local community, not physically with weapons or militarily but by teaching them English in quite a witty way, to hopefully make them seem more assertive, after witnessing them struggle to stand up for themselves against other Americans. There is some fairly witty dialogue present, although I wouldn't say this is a film to watch and analyse to very many levels, if you know what I mean. I'd say this is more of a basic general watch - you can sit back, switch your brain off a bit and enjoy it for what it is. If you like comedy that pokes fun at somewhat pompous authority figures, irreverant, erratic, visual comedy then you'll likely enjoy this but it won't be for everyone. I could again make comparisons with it to the Police Academy films, in terms of the sort of comic nature of the characters and the tone of the comedy, although unlike the Police Academy films, there's definitely a serious side to the storyline as well. I suppose it reminded me of the character in the Police Academy films who is a voice contortionist, throwing his voice around a lot as Adrian pretends to hold conversations with other people while on air, when of course in reality its all him - you could call it professional improvisation, or some may think more along the line of irritatingly hyperactive?. I particularly enjoyed the scenes involving Adrian and Edward Garlick - it was interesting seeing Forest Whitaker in a role from back then (this film dates from 1987) and the way they interacted, it seemed they had an unspoken mutual respect for each other which came across well. This film covers some important messages and is amusing in parts but its also perhaps a little predictable, although it feels a little harsh to say so given the fact its apparently based on a true story and also I felt the ending arrived frustratingly suddenly. People could also criticise the fact that the violence tended to be shown a lot more frankly in relation to the Vietnamese, moreso than the Americans, although perhaps that is more fair than if an American film had portrayed themselves to be the main victims of that war? as I say, I don't think its a film to really over analyse. I also felt that the authority figures came across as perhaps a bit 2D, there were stereotypes at play that maybe wasn't entirely fair but I don't know a great deal about the subject to say with any real expert knowledge. Overall yes, I would recommend this film.

I can't think any single actor who can play Adrian Cronauer besides Robin Williams, the man was perfect for the role, he's talented, he can improvise, and he is energetic, Good Morning, Vietnam is not only fills with Williams amazing performance, the movie fills with an incredible performance by the supporting actor too, especially Forest Whitaker, Good Morning, Vietnam is a truly solid film, is a very very must watch.

Good, if a little underwhelming. Robin Williams (Adrian) is in strong form, while it's amusing to see a less experienced Forest Whitaker (Edward) in a rather dorky role. 'Good Morning, Vietnam' all makes for satisfactory viewing thanks to Mr. Williams' humour, even if I didn't have a great deal of interest in the plot et al.

This is Robin Williams movie. A vechile to showcase his talents. Aside from that, the story skims over some complex yet important issues, which is disappointing.

Williams is very good and there's some good humour but the writing isn't always great.

It is the Williams show, hear it on demand and experience it on demand, the broken rules are justified. Good Morning, Vietnam Levinson has got a huge gift in the form of opportunity for Williams. Luckily, a guy like him, Robin Williams, doesn't take things for granted. And the director, Barry Levinson, aware of the armor he has, squeezes out the talent to his best. Impenetrable is Williams's comic timing and bulletproof, he stays in this battlefield. Almost like a stand up, Williams has got the golden ticket to a global stage with a resonant message as such, the jokes are the distraction and the jokes the root of the game. With a fresh irreplaceable structure the tourist element of the content is not only touched but grabbed and journeyed across the mountains and jungles exploring the Vietnam culture with a nuanced language that picturizes the rich heritage honestly. Another major contender is the pace of the film. With rapid expected information enfolding layer by layer, the screenplay is linear and has engaging drama that does surprise you in its last act.. And Williams as the sung hero in this unbiased world, breathes purpose in their act of war. And with a crowd pleasing persona as such, comes the obvious montages like struggling to make someone laugh, and the paparazzi like crowd wolfish about the star after discovering him in a public place and in the end, the obvious shift in drama from humor, and the drama in humor. Now, meddling with such a force could easily go south, there is no denying about that, even the makers are aware about it, ergo, they don't hand this power to anyone except Williams. And boy, does he take care of it. After wounded by the friendship and colleagues and the cruel world that seeks power, he bravely sits on the booth and wakes up the area in the evening yelling enthusiastically, "Good Morning, Vietnam."

One of Robin Williams' best films & roles..... this was an instant classic.

Robin Wiliams and Forest Withaker are very good. The film is somehow funny, but not too much. It's no masterpiece.