Good Morning, Vietnam

In this 1987 comedy set in 1965, Robin Williams plays armed forces DJ Adrian Cronauer, a real-life figure who brought rock 'n' roll to American soldiers in Vietnam and shook up the staid military-radio format. Directed by Barry Levinson, Good Morning, Vietnam features a superb supporting cast, including Forest Whitaker as Edward Garlick, Cronauer's assistant; Bruno Kirby as Lt. Steven Hauk, Cronauer's straight-arrow supervisor; J.T. Walsh as Sgt. Maj. Dickerson, the humorless senior officer who tries to stop the anti-establishment commentary in Cronauer's free-form patter; Robert Wuhl as Sgt. Marty Dreiwitz, a fan and supporter; and Richard Edson as the clueless Pvt. Abersold. But it's Williams who powers the movie with the same rapid-fire, stream-of-consciousness monologues that defined his standup comedy act—repurposed here as on-air chattering, with Cronauer not realizing the positive effect his music and comedy have on morale. Off the air, Cronauer is a rebel without a cause, until he ventures into the countryside and meets some of the locals. Although based on a true story, the film takes great liberties while making familiar observations about the American presence in Southeast Asia. Released after Platoon, which inspired a wave of Vietnam movies, this is more of a Williams showcase, and on those terms it's very entertaining, with a soundtrack featuring a lively mix of 1960s hits. Bowing on Blu-ray, extras include a multi-part production diary and a compilation of raw monologues (featuring footage from unused improvisations). Recommended. (S. Axmaker)