Tonal Whiplash
The film’s premise is interesting enough: A group of friends set out on a beer run from their hometown to a new place they’ve never been before, only to find that the place is war-torn and full of violence. But while the movie does have some funny moments, it also has some truly harrowing moments, and it never quite manages to find its footing.
Chickie Donohue, a slacker from New York, decides to go to Vietnam and deliver some beers to the boys. He becomes fed up with the constant doom and gloom of the war and sets out on a journey that will change his life. Along the way, he meets new friends and experiences life-changing moments. The Greatest Beer Run Ever is a story of hope, courage, and determination. ..
Chickie is quickly disillusioned with the war and the people he’s fighting alongside. He finds himself constantly running into danger, and the only thing to make up for all of this is his beer addiction.
Chickie’s journey is a bit of a familiar one, but it’s also formulaic and jarring.
This movie is both a comedy and a commentary on the horrors of war, but it falls short in both areas. The comedy never amounts to anything profound, and the commentary is only mildly helpful to Chickie’s character or the movie itself.
Chickie, a young girl, witnesses the aftermath of an explosion first-hand. Mothers clutch their dead children in agony, bodies line the streets and there’s a blood-curdling uneasiness in the air. It’s a gut-wrenching scene… until 5 minutes later we’re back to cracking jokes. ..
The lack of memorable characters in the military is a problem that has been faced by many soldiers over the years.
The blame can’t really be laid at Zac Efron though, as he does well with the material given to him. No, the fault lies with Director Peter Farrelly whose direction is questionable at best. Some of the camera work is also distracting, with numerous cuts in scenes that are crying out for one continuous camera motion. Once you notice it, it’s hard to ignore and it messes with the pacing of the movie.
The scene is particularly annoying because there are a couple of really nice shots here, but one in particular depicting Chickie running across No Man’s Land is particularly bad.
This beer run is something special. It’s a Friday night movie experience that you won’t want to miss. However, the tone of the film could potentially cause some upset viewers.
