The Greatest Beer Run Ever

Published January 27, 2024

Film info

Title The Greatest Beer Run Ever
Director Peter Farrelly
Year 2022
Run time 2hrs 6m
Genres Drama, Comedy, War
Tagline Friendship has no last call

Chickie wants to support his friends fighting in Vietnam, so he does something wild—personally bring them American beer. What starts as a well-meaning journey quickly changes Chickie’s life and perspective. Based on a true story.

Live blog

Time	Comment
2:04	I think the big sharing jug of beer is a bad idea as it pours so badly.
7:43	“I ain’t got a short fuse, you just don’t know when you lit it.”
17:10	Love how he’s talking himself into it going round in circles.
20:49	“She’s loaded with 10,000 tonnes of ammo, blow up half of Manhattan if something went sideways. Jersey goes up, who’d miss it?” So rude!
29:05	James Bond isn’t CIA, for goodness’ sake.
38:44	Every time he explains it, it sounds more crazy.
44:50	“Not that I am a CIA agent.” He’s not lying!
52:39	“Can’t we just call a tank or something?”
59:18	Readjusting to civilian life is such an underestimated thing.
1:06:16	The helicopter scene though.
1:10:48	I feel like it’s a bad move to now have both sides of the war aiming guns at you.
1:24:40	Oklahoma is adorable.
1:35:10	Shit.
1:44:42	Rumours about the beer are preceding him.
1:47:52	“That’s what war is, it’s one giant crime scene.”

Thoughts

This took a little while to get going, all the action is in the second half so the pacing felt a bit off. It’s very on-the-nose, not at all subtle in raising questions, showing off the perils of patriotism, and admitting there are no good answers to the horrors of war.

Zac Efron does an incredible job, shouldering the entire thing. Bill Murray was wasted with a very under-developed character, but Russell Crowe managed to steal all his scenes which was a surprise.

A good, eye-opening, slightly mad story, well told if not entirely perfect.

Rating: 4 / 5