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Parents' Guide to

The Greatest Beer Run Ever

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Drinking, violence, few laughs in fact-based Vietnam story.

Movie R 2022 127 minutes
The Greatest Beer Run Ever Movie: Poster

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 4 parent reviews

Love America
Love America Adult
October 10, 2022
age 15+
This movie is real and I can tell you first hand that the story is true. There are some differences however. First the bartender was my brother George Lynch aka the colonel. His birthdate was 1935 and so because Bill Murray is in his seventies they had to make him a WWII veteran and not a korean vet. My brother was 37 when he wanted to go to VietNam to bring the beer. One factor prevented him, He did not have a seaman card but wanted to get Chickie's card but Chickie's picture was on it plus my brother had no idea about ship boilers etc. My brother everyday would raise the American flag in the am and took it done at dusk. When a person from the neighborhood was killed the flag was lowered in honor of the soldier. Inwood had as much as 20 people serving in Nam at the same time period and we lost quite a few brvae boys from the area. This movie is a lesson on true friendships and always remembering the sacrifices made by our brave military

This title has:

Great role models
1 person found this helpful.
ADelight
ADelight Parent
October 9, 2022
age 13+

They are not forgotten!

From one who watched her three big brothers leave in the same year, headed to Viet Nam. My heart still hurts, remembering how young those kids were, and giving so much (sometimes their lives) only to come home and be shunned. This movie gave me hope that more are recognizing the millions of lives and minds that America lost in Viet Nam. It wasn't dreary to watch; though some grizzly scenes of the reality of war, they did it in a very measured and sensible way.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In THE GREATEST BEER RUN EVER, it's 1967 in New York City, and Merchant Marine Chickie Donohue (Zac Efron) and his friends are dismayed at how many of their friends have been killed in Vietnam. Chickie's sister, Christine (Ruby Ashbourne Serkis), has been participating in anti-war protests, but Chickie feels that this disrespects the troops. While drinking in his favorite bar, which is manned by The Colonel (Bill Murray), Chickie concocts a plan to board the next ship bound for Vietnam and bring all of his still-living military buddies a beer. Once there, with dumb luck, persistence, and help from a crusty reporter named Coates (Russell Crowe), Chickie tries to pull off his wild idea. But actually being in a war zone opens his eyes, too.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4 ):
Kids say (2 ):

This dramedy could have been much funnier, but it falls back on wobbly writing and on overly sincere, one-note sermons about war and service. "That's the dumbest thing I ever heard of," one character says of Chickie's plan in The Greatest Beer Run Ever, but, as directed by comedy veteran Peter Farrelly, the movie somehow fails to capture that tone. Perhaps it cares too much, since it returns again and again to the noble reason for Chickie's journey, which is supporting the troops and "buying those boys a beer." If the movie had been a little more carefree, a little more anarchic, perhaps it might have generated some laughs. (Bill Murray's character in Stripes wouldn't even recognize his character here.)

Perhaps the lead role was a bit much for Efron. His acting chops have marginally improved since his early days, and he can now convincingly play a dramatic scene, but he maybe doesn't quite have the comic timing that a number of other actors would have provided. Or perhaps Farrelly was afraid of offending people by showing any kind of portrayal of the military that could be seen as negative, while still wanting to assert that "war is hell." That could be why the movie seems so pleasant, without being really engaging. Ultimately, while it's hard to hate The Greatest Beer Run Ever, it's just more flat than it is sudsy.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about The Greatest Beer Run Ever's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?

  • How are alcohol and drinking depicted? Are they glamorized? Are there consequences? Why is that important?

  • Is it important for the media to show the truth of war, or should people be protected from it?

  • Do you consider Chickie a role model? Is this a selfless act? What does he ultimately achieve?

Movie Details

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