The Greatest Beer Run Ever: Humorous Anti-War Movie-Apple TV+

This film's review had a wide discrepancy between the critics vs. the audience (Critics 42% and Audience 91% on Rotten Tomatoes).  As I have been doing recently, I sided with the Audience.  The film has its flaws (too long and scenes that don't work), but it's still entertaining, at times very funny, and has a nice anti-war message.  In some ways, it reminded me of "M*A*S*H*," and, although it's in no way in the same league as that iconic film, the movie has a nice mixture of humor, along with exposing the horrors of war.  The film is based on the memoir of the same name by John "Chickie" Donohue and J.T. Molloy.  For the most part, it's purportedly based on actual events. The film takes place in 1967, when the V.N. war is raging and there are plenty of war protestors.  John "Chickie" Molloy, played by Zac Efron, has graduated from high school, but he is floundering.  He lives at home in an Irish neighborhood in NYC.  His father is getting fed up with his laziness and lack of ambition.  Many of his friends have been drafted, or have volunteered to fight in V.N. due to their sense of patriotism.  A couple of his friends have already been killed there!  Chickie is angry at the protestors – among them, his sister – because he thinks they are demoralizing the soldiers instead of encouraging them. One night, while drinking with some friends, Chickie gets the inspiration of how he can support the war effort, especially his friends who are over there!  He will go to V.N. to visit his buddies, and bring plenty of beer with him!  His close friends and other soldiers will then realize that we really care about them.  The beer will cheer them up and help them to relax!  The plan is absurd and poorly thought out (e.g. How does he locate his friends, stay alive in a guerilla warfare situation, figure out a way to get home, and most importantly, keep the beer cold!)  Although ambivalent and scared, Chickie decides to follow through with his plan. The rest of the movie is about Chickie's "mission impossible," which has numerous funny scenes, as well as horrific ones about the war.  In the latter part of the film, Chickie is helped to survive by a seasoned war correspondent, Arthur Oates, played by Russell Crowe (who is terrific). Bottom Line: It's a good, entertaining, and often funny movie, with an effective anti-war message.  I insist, however, in order to show respect for the movie and our V.N. war veterans, that you drink a brew while you watch it!