Is this movie the greatest Vietnam Movie of All Time? Vote Now!
“Gooooooooood morning, Vietnam!” The films of Robin Williams basically fit into two categories: Those in which he plays characters different from himself (“Awakenings,” “Good Will Hunting”) and those in which he plays himself. His 1987 release “Good Morning, Vietnam” falls into the latter classification. Williams plays a nonconformist DJ, Adrian Cronauer, whose anarchic personality allows him the chance to perform at a seemingly spontaneous level throughout much of the film.
When Williams is on, the movie is very funny; when he’s not, it’s too serious for its own good. Fortunately, it’s more funny than not, and the film makes a welcome addition to the ranks of DVD.
The story is set in Saigon, 1965, at the outset of the Vietnam conflict, a “police action” that would escalate into a full-fledged war over the next ten years. Cronauer, a character based on a real-life person, is an airman brought in to entertain the troops via the local Armed Forces radio station.
The General thinks he’s funny; the Lieutenant and Sgt.-Major in charge of the station don’t. They think he’s out of control, no matter what the General or every combat soldier who listens to him thinks
Supporting Williams are fine performances by Forest Whitaker as Cronauer’s right-hand man, Edward Garlick; Robert Wuhl as a fellow DJ, Marty Dreiwitz; J.T. Walsh as the villainous Sgt.-Major; and Noble Willingham as General Taylor.
Video: The picture quality is pretty good. Buena Vista have sensibly remastered the film in its original 1.85:1 screen ratio, and the colors are bright and natural, with just a tinge of mist across the image. It’s better than the glassy tones one sometimes finds in DVD transfers.
Audio: The stereo sound comes up well in Dolby Digital, with the surround channels used sparingly but effectively. There is some especially thunderous deep bass that will satisfy the listener who owns a good subwoofer.
Extras: As usual, BV provide few additional amenities beyond the minimal items. But they do offer the biggest array of opening warnings of any company in the DVD market. No way to skip through them, either.
Parting Thoughts: “Good Morning, Vietnam” is a movie that only Robin Williams could have pulled off. He’s irreverent, impulsive, and amusing. But don’t expect another “M.A.S.H.,” which made a strong antiwar statement without ever taking itself too seriously. Skipping the last twenty minutes of “Good Morning, Vietnam” might not be a bad idea (and DVD makes it easy to do). Or not. Williams is a joy to watch in any case, even when the movie gets too heavily into “message.”
Mitch Markowitz
Cast overview – first billed only:
Robin Williams
….
A2C Adrian Cronauer
Forest Whitaker
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Pfc. Edward Montesque Garlick
Tung Thanh Tran
….
Tuan (aka Phan Duc To)
Chintara Sukapatana
….
Trinh
Bruno Kirby
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2nd Lt. Steven Hauk
Robert Wuhl
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SSgt. Marty Lee Dreiwitz
J.T. Walsh
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Sgt. Maj. Phillip ‘Dick’ Dickerson
Noble Willingham
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Brig. Gen. Taylor
Richard Edson
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Pvt. Abersold
Juney Smith
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Sgt. Phil McPherson
Richard Portnow
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Dan ‘The Man’ Levitan
Floyd Vivino
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Eddie Kirk
Cu Ba Nguyen
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Jimmy Wah, Owner Jimmy Wah’s
Dan Stanton
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Censor #1 (SSgt.)
Don Stanton
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Censor #2 (SSgt.)
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GOOD MORNING VIETNAM (1987) – A Movie Review
