History Film / GoodMorningVietnam

* NoIndoorVoice

** Marty pulls a rather epic double-facepalm at Lt. Hauk's...err, jokes.

* BlitheSpirit: Adrian Cronauer, to the constant frustration of his superiors, escpecially with Dickerson.

* BlitheSpirit: Adrian Cronauer, to the constant frustration of his superiors.

* CannotTellAJoke: Hauk's one broadcast is a complete trainwreck and prompts floods of hate mail.

* GungHolierThanThou: Dickerson.

* HarmlessVillain: Hauk spends the film as little more than an annoyance. He berates Cronauer for his taste in both humor and musical programming but nobody takes him seriously.
* HateSink: Dickerson is a monumentally hateful villain who seems imported from a much more serious movie. There's absolutely nothing redeeming about him despite serving in the military. Taylor even lampshades it when reassigning him as punishment for his vindictiveness.

* HollywoodHistory: The real Adrian Cronauer readily admits he was nowhere near as funny or outrageous as Williams (of course, who could be?). Most of the movie, in fact, is fabricated. Cronauer just played rock music with no commentary and was sent home when his tour was over.

* JerkassHasAPoint: Dickerson is an irredeemable HateSink but he is correct to reprimand Cronauer for instigating a bar fight, something that in real life would almost certainly result in a court-martial. On the other hand, Dickerson seemed more interested in using it as an excuse to antagonize Cronauer rather than uphold military protocol.

* KarmaHoudini: Downplayed. On one hand, Taylor purposely [[ReassignedToAntarctica reassigns Dickerson to Guam]] for being a petty, vindictive asshole. On the other hand it never comes to light that Dickerson intentionally routed Cronauer through a Viet Cong-controlled highway with the intent of getting him killed. In real life this would almost certainly result in Dickerson spending the rest of his life in prison.

* OhCrap: When Cronauer is informed that [[spoiler:Tuan is a VC terrorist. At first he's dismissive, but when Dickerson starts pointing out suspicious behavior by Tuan (such as his ability to freely get in and out of VC territory)]] Cronauer starts to realize that it all adds up.

* VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory: Although he liked the movie and the treatment of the story, the real Adrian Cronauer said the movie is inaccurate. In truth, pretty much everything except the basic details was fabricated. For example, instead of being the staunch liberal, antiwar, anti-military Creator/RobinWilliams (despite being in a volunteer-only branch), he describes himself as a "lifelong card-carrying Republican" and was a vice-chairman of the 2004 Bush/Cheney campaign, was sent home when his tour ended and states that much of what Williams did would have gotten him court-martialled in a heartbeat. He was also a Sergeant, not an Airman First Class.

-->'''General Taylor:''' [[ActuallyPrettyFunny Goddammit that's funny.]]

* StalkingIsLove: Cronauer runs after a woman he likes the look of, then bribes his way into getting close to her. Of course, this is seen as fun, romantic, and not at all creepy.

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: Cronauer is kicked out of the Air Force for his unwitting friendship with a Viet Cong guerrilla. Despite his obvious shock and sadness, he does have a few more hours with his beloved English class playing softball with citrus and bamboo, he gets to say goodbye to Trinh and leaves a comedic farewell message for Garlick to broadcast the next morning. Also, Dickerson gets transferred to Guam because his superiors are fed up with his pettiness.]]

--> "This great Godly miracle of radio really gives me the opportunity to speak to you on the air!"

** [[spoiler: Cronauer was firsthand witness to the destruction of Jimmy Wah's and the death of at least one serviceman, so we can understand his need to report on it.]]
--> [[spoiler: '''Cronauer:''' (of the blood on his shirt) Where do you think THIS came from, shaving?! It's the truth, I'd like to report the truth; it'd be a nice change of pace!]]
* DespairEventHorizon: Adrian hits it in the village, after [[spoiler: Trinh bluntly rebuffs his advances of friendship]].
--> "... Great week..."

--> '''Dickerson:''' You stay out of my way, there'll be no problem... but if you toy with me, I'll burn you so bad, you'll wish you'd died as a child. Am I being fairly clear?
--> '''Cronauer:''' Yes, sir.
--> '''Dickerson:''' Sir! I ''work'' for a living, airman. You will address me as Sergeant Major Dickerson.
--> '''Cronauer:''' Yes, Sergeant Major Dickerson.
--> Later:
--> '''Dickerson:''' Cronauer, you better stay cool. You better not get involved in anything. You better not even come in range of anything that happens. Or your ass is grass and I'm a lawnmower. Am I being fairly clear?
--> '''Cronauer:''' Yes, sir.
--> '''Dickerson:''' Do you see anything on this uniform indicating an officer? [''Pointing to his rank insignia''] What does three up and three down mean to you, airman?
--> '''Cronauer:''' End of an inning?

* EvilAllAlong: It's revealed that [[spoiler: Tuan, aka Phan Duc Tho, is a VC terrorist. Bomber of, among other places, Jimmy Wah's.]]

--> '''Hauk:''' In my heart, I know I'm funny.
* GilliganCut: Tuan arranges a date between his sister, Trinh, and Adrian, but warns Adrian that he won't like it when he gets there; he'll say it's ridiculous. "Why? That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard." Cue [[spoiler: Trinh in front of a dozen of her family members serving as chaperones and greeting Adrian, and his looking less than pleased.]]
--> [[spoiler: "Oh, God, [[ThisIsGonnaSuck this could be very ugly]]."]]

* JustFollowingOrders: The [=MPs=] (one of whom was on duty when Cronauer gave his impromptu show to the trucks full of soldiers) assigned to [[spoiler: escort Adrian to his plane home]] are implied to be (like most of the rest of the occupying Army) quite fond of Cronauer, and indeed [[spoiler: [[NotSoAboveItAll join in on the last day of fun with a group of Vietnamese English students.]] ]]

* LoopholeAbuse: Dickerson never actually (that we know of) laid down a specific time-table to get [[spoiler: Cronauer on his plane home]] that final day, which allows him, Garlick and even [[NotSoAboveItAll the [=MPs=]]] to join in on the promised game of softball with the English class.

* MoodWhiplash: The movie starts off very funny and irreverent, as Cronauer adjusts (or doesn't) to life in South Vietnam with characteristic hilarity. Then [[spoiler: he's almost blown up by a Viet Cong bomb, and finds out that the Vietnamese kid he'd become friendly with is actually a Viet Cong guerrilla trying to kill as many Americans as he can. Cronauer eventually becomes horribly disillusioned with the whole situation.]] [[UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar Needless to say]], the movie ends on a bit of a {{downer|Ending}}.

-->'''Cronauer:''' (faking like he's taking a phone call) Hi, who's this?
-->'''Cronauer:''' (faking like he's calling in): MY NAME'S BOB FIBBER!
-->'''Cronauer:''' Hi Bob, what do you do?
-->'''(As "Bob"):''' I'M IN ARTILLERY!
-->'''Cronauer:''' Listen, can we play anything for you?
-->'''(As "Bob"):''' ANYTHING, JUST PLAY IT LOUD, OK?!

* PassingTheTorch: A middle scene has Cronauer messing with Garlick to see what he'd be like as a radio host. [[spoiler: After he's discharged because of his unwitting friendship to a VC]], Garlick takes his place.

--> Thank you for that constructive criticism. It's a privilege to take comedy notes from [[TheNapoleon a man of your stature.]]

-->[the third time Garlick attempts to start an already started car]
-->'''Adrian''': Staggers the imagination.
-->'''Garlick''': Makes me unique?
-->'''Adrian''': What a plus.

--> '''General Taylor''': [[ActuallyPrettyFunny Goddammit that's funny.]]

--> '''General Taylor''': Goddammit that's funny.

* ActuallyPrettyFunny: Brigadier General Taylor's reaction to Cronauer's broadcasts.

* HateSink: Dickerson, so very, very much. There's absolutely nothing redeeming about him despite serving in the military. Taylor even lampshades it when reassigning him as punishment for his vindictiveness.

* KnightOfCerebus: Dickerson, a monumentally hateful villain who seems imported from a much more serious movie.

** Though he has no problems insulting you to your face either.

-->'''Thank you for that constructive criticism. It's a privilege to take comedy notes from [[TheNapoleon a man of your stature.]]

* StealthInsult: Cronauer, of course. Though he has no problem insulting you to your face too.

* PassingTheTorch: A middle scene has Cronauer messing with Garlick to see what he'd be like as a radio host. [[spoiler: After he's reassigned because of his unwitting friendship to a VC]], Garlick takes his place.

* MoralEventHorizon: Dickerson spends most of the early movie being a hard-nosed jerk who at least tolerates Cronauer when he's not going overboard. His feud with the latter escalates UpToEleven when Dickerson attempts to have Cronauer killed by routing his vehicle through Viet Cong-controlled territory in what is technically attemtped premeditated murder.

* VillainousRescue: [[Tuan pulls Cronauer, whom he considers a friend, outside of Jimmy Wah's seconds before the bombing, saving his life.]]