In 1965, Adrian Cronauer (Robin Williams) arrives in Saigon to work as a DJ for the Armed Forces Radio Service. His broadcasts soon make him very popular with his listeners but his freewheeling improvisations and clashes with the censors also get him into trouble. Not least of all when Cronauer is faced with the aspects of war that are not funny at all.

The real Adrian Cronauer has been very clear about the fact that Robin Williams' radio banter would have gotten him courtmartialed in no time at all. But this is a film and watching Williams do what he does best is a joy.