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The Greatest Beer Run Ever
(Apple Original Films/Skydance)
By Lucas Allen
After taking home the Best Picture Oscar for 2018’s “Green Book,” director Peter Farrelly hopes to reclaim the glory with his new drama “The Greatest Beer Run Ever.” Based on an unbelievable true story, this movie attempts to add a lighter side to the horrors of the Vietnam War. While watching this, you’re going to need more than a can of beer to get through it.
Living in Manhattan in 1967, Chickie Donohue (Zac Efron) likes to hang out with his friends at a local bar run by the Colonel (Bill Murray). However, many of his friends are already halfway around the world fighting in the jungles of Vietnam. When one of his friends disappears in battle, he decides on a crazy idea of traveling down to the frontlines and give his Army buddies some cans of beer as a sign of friendly goodwill. Despite protests from his sister Christine (Ruby Ashbourne Serkis), Chickie manages to pack his bag with many cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon and commandeers a boat to travel down to Saigon.
Once there, he’s met with general concern and confusion about his crazy journey, including from American reporter Arthur Coates (Russell Crowe), who warns him of what he’s getting himself into. Regardless, Chickie presses forward, even posing as a CIA agent to get where he has to go. Although he does make some deliveries, he starts to see the dark truths of what his friends are going through. The only other thing left for him to do is to try to leave the country when things begin to escalate.
If you think about it, this kind of outrageous true story would make for an interesting comedy about a lovable buffoon learning about the tragedies of war through his courage and optimism. Unfortunately, this movie doesn’t go for anything straightforward nor audience-friendly in its storytelling. Generally speaking, Farrelly has turned this crazy true story into mediocre Oscar bait. When it started, it sets up and executes its plot in such an awkward matter with much of the dialogue written as both preachy and melancholy. We know war is bad, but they should not have to keep hammering it in throughout its two-hour runtime.
Say what you will about “Green Book,” at least it was sincere in teaching us that racism is bad. But this movie doesn’t have the sincerity to tell us why the Vietnam War was such a tragic time and there’s no real pathos to latch upon. Not to mention, the whole driving part of the plot being Chickie being thought as a CIA agent doesn’t go anywhere. All you get is a dramatic film about one man’s journey to discover the perils of war, but failing to reach the same heights as better Vietnam War films like “Full Metal Jacket” and “Platoon.”
At least the acting is solid, mainly from its three big stars. Efron carries his role with his goofy likability especially during some of the more emotional scenes. With a better script, he would’ve gone the Channing Tatum route in mixing his serious acting with some light-hearted dialogue. Despite limited screen time, Crowe was able to deliver a very grounded performance compared to his most recent work with his arresting personality. Murray is mainly there to fill in the “older and wiser” small part, but he’s fine nonetheless.
Ultimately, “The Greatest Beer Run Ever” does not live up to the title, and Farrelly trying to reach for awards glory like last time makes it a laughable disappointment. Perhaps a complete re-write plus better marketing could’ve made the story work better as an 80s-style comedy thriller with bite. But as it is, it becomes a hangover after a night of binge-drinking.
THE MOVIE’S RATING: R (for language and some war violence)
THE CRITIC’S RATING: 2 Stars (Out of Four)
