Female Film Critics 24/375
The Greatest Beer Run Ever could have been just another bromance or a boy-farce, like The Hangover. It is more than either sub-genre, much more — maybe because it’s based on a real story, as farcical as that is. The film is well realized. John Donohue, called “Chick,” made his beer run to Vietnam in 1967. He had been in the military earlier, stationed in his home state of Massachusetts.
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It’s 1967, the Vietnam War is raging and so are opinions on America’s participation in the fight. Zac Efron is John “Chickie” Donahue. A guy in flux who needs to do something that makes a difference. He decides to give his buddies in combat a taste of home, but he ends up getting a big gulp of the battle instead.
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While America’s involvement in the Vietnam War remains controversial, films like The Deer Hunter, Apocalypse Now and Ken Burns’ documentary, have reflected on the conflict’s psychological aspects. So The Greatest Beer Run Ever is a refreshingly entertaining comedic drama, focusing on a crowd-pleasing, behind-the-scenes glimpse of a globe-spanning beer run.
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“Unhinged” works better as the future answer to a trivia question or a cynically blood-soaked riff on the ubiquitous meme “Be kind because everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about” than it does as a quality film.
Read moreHaving Russell Crowe play the heavy in a violent cheesefest about road rage is a perfect fit. What he brings with him to the role of vengeful psycho are all those real-life public donnybrooks and temper tantrums; what a boon to the willing suspension of disbelief. But, Feel free to ignore the marketing malarkey about this being the right movie — it isn’t —and the right time — not on your life —to return to theatres.
Read moreThe next time the traffic light turns green and the driver ahead of you doesn’t immediately move forward, think twice before angrily honking your horn. That’s the message of this cautionary road-rage rampage. The formulaically directed action-packed screenplay keeps a snarling, glowering Russell Crowe behind the wheel, pedal-to-the-metal most of the time.
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Anyone who has traveled to Australia in person or through films or books knows the legend of Ned Kelly. Peter Carey, who wrote Oscar and Lucinda, wrote a novel about Ned Kelly on which this bloody film is based. The story, true or not, is set in the Australian bush, starting in 1867.
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