I would definately get this if you like war films or Robin Williams.

Classic Robin Williams!
Review date: 2004-08-16 Rating: 10 out of 10

I was only about ten years old when i saw my first Robin Williams film and ever since then i have been pretty much hooked, and on watching films like this, you can totally see why.

I didn't realise until after i had watched this film that it was in fact based upon a true story and that Adrian Cronauer the radio DJ is in fact a real person and originally it was his idea to transfer his story onto the big screen. However according to the real Adrian Cronauer the film is only about forty-five percent accurate and in it he is misinterpreted as being anti-military when he was really, in his own words "anti-stupidity". And so the film must be taken with a pinch of salt both as far as the portrayal of 1960s' armed forces radio and as far as the movie's plot is concerned. However this does not make it any less enjoyable and or funny with Williams as Adrian Cronauer himself.

Against the grim back-drop of the Vietnam war, radical DJ Adrian Cronauer is draftered in from Greece to Saigon by the military as a field-radio broadcaster. While his antics amuse the soldiers he was put there to amuse, they also put him in hot water with his superior officers, particularly Lt. Steven Hauk, who would prefer that the radio show be censored, sanitized, and completely noncontroversial. He decides to take over the running of an English class so that he can meet the beautiful Demure Trinh, however instead ends up befriending her brother Tuan. However things are not what they seem and when Tuan turns out to be a terrorist and Cronauer's antics on the air reach their limit as far as the officals are concerned, he is fired from his post and send away from Saigon for good.

The theme of realisation i think is quite big in this film, appearing mainly in Cronauer himself; the realisation of what war is really like as he sees terrorist attacks around him, one of which he was nearly involved in; and the realisation of the people around him specifically Tuan who turns out to be a terrorist and responsible for several attacks.

Obviously Robin Willaims is brilliant in this film as Adrian Cronauer the radical radio DJ whose idea of entertaining the field arevery different from the military's. The rest of the cast are also very good in their supporting roles; Forest Whitaker as Pfc. Montesque Garlick,
the only person in the military who becomes friends with Cronauer while he is in Saigon; Tung Thanh Tran who plays Phan Duc To the Vietnamese terrorist who befriends Cronauer and pretends to be called Tuan; Chintara Sukapatana who plays the lovely Trinh, the brother of Tuan and the girl Adrian fancies; and Bruno Kirby who plays 2nd Lt. Steven Hauk the guy who has had two jokes published in Readers Digest and takes over Cronauer's job on the air for a while when he quite due to restrictions of his material. I could go on forever but you get the picture that the cast are all good in their roles.

There are a number of extras on this DVD which make it just that little bit more worth buying. Firstly there is a wonderful featurette that tracks the process that Robin Williams went through to improvise the radio slots and is a valuable insight into the comedic talents of the film's star (although any fan of his already knows). Secondly there is a production diary containing interviews with the cast, crew abd even the real life Cronauer himself. Thirdly there are two trailers; the original theatrical trailer and a teaser trailer. Then of course there are the usual scene selections and interactive menus which you come to expect from a DVD anyway.

Overall, 'Good Morning Vietnam' really is a wondeful movie and will make even the most serious of people laugh until hurts. If you call yourself a Robin Williams fan then of course this film is for you, but if you just want a highly funny and enjoyable film with a slightly serious side, then this film is for you. Whatever you do, don't miss out on this piece of classic Robin Williams! Highly Recommended!

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