Review of Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) by Alex R — 04 Jul 2011

What you have with Good Morning Vietnam is a comedy set amidst the Vietnam war. The film emphasizes on comedy, but also has great bits of drama, just to refresh the audiences memory that despite the fact it's funny, it is set against a backdrop of a very controversial war.

Starring Robin Williams in the role of Adrian Cronauer, Cronauer is sent to Saigon, Vietnam to host Saigon radio broadcasts. Cronauer quickly built morale with his dynamite broadcasts. Good Morning Vietnam is a well crafted film that is just as funny, as it is dramatic.

Robin Williams is excellent in his role, and it's hard to picture someone else in the role. I love the combination of dramatic elements with the comedy. Director Barry Levinson directs a great cast of talented actors and they all deliver great, memorable performances.

Good Morning Vietnam uses it's dramatic elements to remind the viewer about the seriousness of it's story. After all, the film is set during the Vietnam war, and what the film does so well is show the horrors of war at the same being funny.

At the time of it's release, doing a comedy set during the Vietnam war wasn't a popular idea for a film. But it works, and Levinson found the balance for both elements in one film. This is a great film that is a must see for fans of war fillms as well as people who enjoy comedies.