Williams the Big Movie Star!

Rating: 8/10 (11 March 2001)

"Gooood Mooorrnning, Vieeetnamm!!!" screams Robin Williams from the big screen as he stakes a claim once and for all to be recognised as a long awaited Big Movie Star-an actor in his own right.
This achievement is made with the aid of a well-scripted storyline, supporting cast and fine direction, with of course that certain special 'Williams-thing' that was his bread and butter even at this time of things-stand up/sit down improvisational comedy in front of a microphone. This all makes for a truly rare, wonderful and unusual scenario unlike any film of this genre. It's a touchy subject but it's all handled beautifully, making it a touching subject more than anything which can be very few and far between in any routine comedy/drama.
Robin Williams has come a long way since his TV days of 'Nah-nu, nah-nu' as he sets out to portray that he can handle the heavy and demanding scenes as well as anything else. But, he had already gone through the motions of these kind of scenes previously with the likes of the classic 'World According To Garp','Moscow On The Hudson' and the maudlin 'Seize the Day'.

In this film the 'Williams-machine' all came together for the very first time as he portrays his version of Adrian Cronauer, the Armed Forces Radio D.J. sent out to Saigon in 1965 to help whip everyone's morale into shape-and that he certainly did! Well, maybe not everyone's has one or two of the top ranks aren't too pleased with such quips as "the Big Dick is here!..." when referring to a visit from Vice-President, Richard Nixon.When you see Williams,as Cronauer, perform the comedy routines on, and off, the Airwaves, all you can do is watch in hilarious wonderment and ask just exactly what kind of brain are we witnessing here.
'Good Morning, Vietnam' is billed as a Comedy/Drama, but it was the Drama aspect of it that for me, certainly shone through as much as the hilarity side of the script. All the aspects that centred around this angle of the Vietnam War-Cronauer in trouble with his superiors, falling in love, and ultimately crossing the political line of fire, all make for a creative piece of film-making, and certainly one that deserved it's Oscar nominations.
Mr.Williams seems to have a flair for making this type of comedy with a mix of the unusual dramatics, and this seems to have started with the aforementioned 'Garp' and is continued after 'Vietnam' with the lesser-rated, but rather amicable 'Cadillac Man' and the absorbing 'Fisher King'.
Anyway, no matter what, you will laugh, cry and laugh again at 'Good Morning, Vietnam'-it is a classic. And, don't forget all those great sixties tunes in the background.