Zac Efron has had an interesting go of it, starting with his days as a Disney heartthrob in the High School Musical series to proving he had a set of nasty comedy chops in the Neighbors film series alongside Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne. Now he’s putting them to use again in a comedy based on the real-life story of a man making the most dangerous beer run in history.
The Peter Farrelly film, based on the book of the same name, features Efron as real life former marine-turned-merchant mariner, John “Chickie” Donahue. It opens on Donahue in a dugout with a soldier asking him if he’s ready. Ready for what? Running. As they run through a hail of gunfire, titles are superimposed: A REAL GUY ACTUALLY DID THIS. They dive down behind some sandbags the soldier says, “We’re halfway home.” Chickie pauses—“Halfway?!?” He then begins narrating the backstory over a shot of his character waking up in a twin bed in New York: “I’m ‘Chickie’ Donahue and I’m not supposed to be in Vietnam.”
After scenes of protesters, “Chickie” Donahue is seen drinking in a neighborhood dive bar where the bartender, played by Bill Murray, says that the soldiers over there can see that lack of support on TV and that he wishes he could bring each of them a beer. Donahue says he could do that. His friend says he’s drunk and the bartender responds, “The man’s stone sober. That’s his fifth beer, maybe. Tops.” Donahue then stands up and shouts, “I’m going to Vietnam…and I’m bringin’ them beer!” His friends alternately cheer him on or facepalm.
Filling a duffel bag full of Pabst, he takes off for Vietnam aboard a cargo ship. Once in country he meets up with a war photographer played by Russell Crowe who tells him, “Smuggling beer into a warzone? That’s not the smartest thing I’ve ever heard of. It’s certainly not the worst, either.” They figure out a logistical route that will trace a major river and the expedition begins. It starts out all fun and games but Donahue realizes all too quickly that Vietnam is far more Apocalypse Now than it isn’t. Crowe insists he be a witness so he can tell folks what’s really going on back home. The film ends with a montage of Donahue handing out beers and taking off in a chopper.
The true story that The Greatest Beer Run Ever is based on is pretty spectacular, and could make for a fun movie. A short documentary about the real Chickie is available to watch on the Pabst Blue Ribbon YouTube channel, and is definitely worth checking out if only to understand the basis for this upcoming movie.
The Greatest Beer Run Ever is in theaters and streaming September 30th, 2022.