While not among the most memorable Vietnam War movies made during that period, "Platoon Leader" still manages to offer some redeeming qualities. The film follows a newly commissioned Lieutenant (Michael Dudikoff) who finds himself in charge of a platoon stationed at an isolated location within Binh Dinh province, Vietnam. Initially, his soldiers are unimpressed with him, but their perception shifts when he returns after sustaining injuries and demonstrates a greater understanding of jungle combat tactics. "Platoon Leader," released in 1988, draws inspiration from James R. McDonough’s memoir and combines the narrative structure of “The Green Berets” (1968) with a visual style reminiscent of "Platoon" (1986). However, it's evident that this production had a limited budget, which is characteristic of films starring Dudikoff or Chuck Norris from the 1980s. It’s similar in feel to “Braddock: Missing in Action III,” also directed by Aaron Norris, Chuck’s brother. Even with some questionable performances and a story that could have been more engaging, there are aspects worth appreciating—such as certain distinctive musical cues—and even some genuinely affecting scenes. Dudikoff delivers a solid performance in the lead role, and Robert F. Lyons is also effective as the seasoned non-commissioned officer. The movie has a running time of 1 hour, 36 minutes, and was filmed on a farm in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, which served as a substitute for Southeast Asia. GRADE: C

Source on TMDB