You may have heard that this beer was greeted with a lukewarm reception at Telluride, but don't be fooled, while it's dropped out of Oscar Best Picture discussion, this is a ten-buck-worthy movie that is perfect for a weekend movie night.
Perhaps its pedigree raised expectations a bit. Directed by Peter Farrelly (2019 Oscar Best Picture Green Book), the film was expected to be the one that Apple pushed for its follow-up to last year's best picture, CODA. Turns out, it's a good film that just doesn't reach that level of greatness. But it's one of the best new things you can stream at home this month.
The Greatest Beer Run Ever tells the true story of Chickie Donohue and his bar bet decision to take a trip to Vietnam— in 1967— to bring his soldier friends a beer and a hug of support from their hometown. Zac Efron (The Greatest Showman) plays Chickie and earns points for playing a character that's not Zac Efron, but falls short of taking the story to something a bit deeper. Perhaps Miles Teller would have been the winning choice here.
The full film has the same problem. It's neither crazy funny (after all, this is the director of Dumb and Dumber and Something About Mary) nor very deep and moving. Unless it's a shock to you that the Vietnam War was full of bad things, it's a bit of a lightweight given its potential.
However, like Forest Gump grazing through history lightly or perhaps Good Morning Vietnam, it's a very likable, watchable film. And it's an amazing true story.
Once I realized that this was more Green Book than Platoon and more Forrest Gump than Tropic Thunder, I sunk into the story and enjoyed the show.
Award Potential: None.
Where to see it: Apple TV+
The Ten Buck Review: Worth ten bucks.
