[3] The publicity for the film, advertised as a lighthearted buddy movie, implied a tone that differs greatly from the actual film, which includes such serious themes as an anti-war message, focus on the opium trade, and a negative portrayal of Royal Laotian General Vang Pao (played by actor Burt Kwouk as "General Lu Soong").

His skills, bravery and disregard for the law are noticed by a government agent, who offers him a job in Laos working for the "strictly civilian" company Air America, which turns out to be a front for CIA operations.

Senator Davenport arrives to investigate rumors that Air America is transporting drugs for Laotian forces.

Major Lemond and Rob Diehl, CIA leaders of Air America, show the Senator around Laos to prevent him discovering that the rumors are true.

Unfortunately, Davenport loses great respect from General Soong during their first meeting at the airport when mistaking him to be a local luggage-carrying valet.

Gene finds a buyer for his arsenal, allowing him to quit Air America and take his family out of Laos.

Billy accepts one more flight, taking flour to a refugee camp when he is instructed to divert for "routine inspection."

Gene reluctantly dumps the weapons to make room for the refugees, with much pressure from Billy, and blows up their cache to cover the escape.

In the postscript of the closing credits, it is revealed that General Soong makes it to America eventually and gets his dream of owning and operating a Holiday Inn, that Gene wins a lottery in Thailand in 1975, and that Billy is deported from Thailand for fixing the same lottery in order for Gene to win.

[7] The budget of Air America increased to $35 million as the production involved a 500-member crew shooting in 49 different locations between Thailand, London, and Los Angeles; operating between eight and fifteen cameras at a time.

[10] Metacritic reports a weighted average score of 33 out of 100, based on 13 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".

The review of Air America in the St. Paul Pioneer Press noted: "... the comedy adventure doesn't feature any real heroes of that war, men like the Hmong pilot Lee Lue.

"[15] Christopher Robbins said the movie distorted his book's presentation of the Air America story, and historian William Leary noted "The exploits of CAT/Air America form a unique chapter in the history of air transport, one that deserves better than a misleading, mediocre movie.

"[17] Alexander Cockburn wrote in the Los Angeles Times that Air America received abuse for "dar[ing] to say the unsayable, and commits the added offense of joking about it ...