Customer Reviews

Hero at Large [VHS]

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you have only seen John Ritter in "Three's Company" or "8 Simple Rules", you should see this film. One of his first film breakaway roles from Jack Tripper, his true talent is very visible in this picture. It is a sad task to write this review, being that Mr. Ritter is no longer with us. But his legacy of comedy, and drama, will be a memorial of the talent he had. If you want a feel good movie filled with a sense of hope, and an ultimate happy ending, this is the film for you, if you just love John Ritter this is the film for you. 5 stars my seem too much to some people, but for the comedy, charisma, and color it contains, this movie deserves it! Watch it!

I remember seeing this many years ago on HBO and getting hooked. After years of being out of print, it's good to see it available again. John Ritter's character is an incredibly likeable guy who finds that the adage is true that "no good deed goes unpunished" as he allows his scruples to be corrupted by Convy's movie-producer role. Really a great film, and definitely one to add to your movie collection.

This is a true "feel good" film. I remember watching it many times as a child. The message was moral and the story of "real guy turning hero" never dies out. The fact it is John Ritter in his prime just adds to the draw. In addition, Anne Archer puts in a strong and lovable performance as the love interest.

Don't miss this film. For kids though, the violence and mild language could be tough. I suggest 9 or older (if I remember the language issues correctly). Best to pre-screen before showing it to the children.

This is a really good movie. John Ritter is charming, Anne Archer is sexy and the story is really heartwarming. I don't know how this movie did in theatres, but it deserves to be discovered all over again. I see it as an oft-overlooked film with a big heart. Too bad the DVD has no extras other than the trailer. You can't help but root for John Ritter's character and the ending is a good one. See it!!!

I had the pleasure of seeing this wonderful little movie back in 1980 during its original theatrical release. I was 15 at the time and still coming down from the huge impact of The Empire Strikes Back. I imagine that most people today, or even back then I guess, would look at this film and think it was nothing more than a cute "TV movie". In some ways, they would be right. But, that's ok by me. This film should not be confused with The Godfather trilogy, Lawrence of Arabia, or some other epic masterpiece. Hero at Large is a small film, despite it being a mainstream Hollywood production. It has a lot of heart, a great script and solid direction. The film is filled with likeable characters, humor, and really good performances. John Ritter, in particular, was perfect for the role of Steve/Captain Avenger.

I own one of the original VHS releases(in the old "over-sized" VHS box) and still enjoy watching it every now and then when I'm in the mood to root for the underdog. I'm VERY interested in picking up the DVD...if it ever becomes available. I'm looking forward to sharing this wonderful film with my kids when they are old enough to appreciate it.

--Dave Habeeb

Yep, it ain't rocket science. It's just a simple story about a guy who accidentally becomes a hero, and eventually sells out to the man. By the time he realizes his mistake, it's too late. If your eyes don't tear up at the end (even though it's kind of predictable), you're probably a little too cynical. I've watched this a dozen times and I could watch it a dozen more!

Hero at large;
Excellent, fun movie; John Ritter and Ann Archer at their best!!!

Movie is saved because of the likability of John Ritter who was riding on his success on tv's THREE'S COMPANY back in the late 70's early 80's. He plays a struggling actor who puts on the costume of comic book superhero "Captain Avenger" for promotional appearances. On his way home from an engagement, he foils a robbery and the rest is predictable. However, it is not necessarily too bad of a story because there is a lot of heart and plausibility in the plot. Along with the mistaken identity plot (so prevalent in Ritter's THREE'S COMPANY scripts) there is a good love story and chemistry between Ritter's character and his neighbor, the beautiful Ann Archer. Overall, great New York City locations, decent script, and good characters sprinkle this romantic comedy gem.

I didn't know this film existed until, after a trailer for "KICK-ASS", about to come out this year, someone thought that it was a "rip off" of "HERO AT LARGE", so I decided to see this film. Having read the comic book version of "KICK-ASS", while there are many similarities, "HERO AT LARGE" pre-dates it by over 15 years and has many more differences. The late John Ritter stars as Steve Nichols, a struggling actor drowning in NYC; skilled enough to help out acting students in his spare time, he can't even get a decent commercial job and is weeks late on rent. When he takes a gig appearing as "CAPTAIN AVENGER" to promote a superhero film of the same name, a trick of fate and a moment of courage from him snowball into him "becoming" the hero, and Steve, becoming a city wide sensation. While he seems most concerned with wooing the heart of his jaded next door neighbor (Anne Archer), a local public relations mogul as well as a local politician seek to manipulate the situation to their own ends.

For 1980, I sincerely believe this film was ahead of it's time. It acts almost like a deconstruction of superhero films, as well as how they are promoted. The problem is in 1980, the only major superhero film franchise was SUPERMAN, and 1980 was the year SUPERMAN II hit theaters. It also covers the idea that while the concept of spandex clad heroes fighting crime or saving people are easy thinks to mock or think are hokey, but many people would like to believe in the ideals that they uphold. The comic book version of "KICK-ASS" often is vile, full of pop culture, has many ethnically offensive gags and the main character often is unlikeable. John Ritter sells Nichols as a somewhat weird and earnest but still genuinely good man, swept up by the situation and the manipulation of others. Another interesting thing is compared to a lot of other comedies or even "realistic" superhero films, this film actually has a good degree of realism. While Nichols is an athletic man who keeps in good shape, he's not a martial artist nor an action hero; much of the film's middle is spent recovering from an injury, and the climax benefits from this sense of realism, that Nichols is not John McClane and can be hurt as easily as any of us.

Without spoiling anything, I will say this film benefits if you have not seen the theatrical trailer online, as it has many of the film's highlights and summarizes the whole thing. Even when watching it, this is not a film that has twists and turns; you can usually predict how things will go after ten or twenty minutes. That doesn't make it bad, though. The ending is quite positive and for a movie sometimes billed as a comedy, there are some genuinely suspenseful moments to the finale. Some of the most awkward bits actually revolve around the romance, which at times seems to reach certain points because the plot demands it. At one point it is mentioned that Nichols drives a cab part time, but this only comes into play when the movie needs a chase scene. It also is fun to look for NYC locations from 1980 and even to hear grocery story prices. Yes, in 1980, a six pack of beer could be had for $2.50.

"HERO AT LARGE" is perhaps not a forgotten Oscar contender, but it is a solid film that doesn't deserve to be missed, or even out of print. The message of the film is while good deed often doesn't go unpunished, they do matter and they are appreciated, even vital, to society. Cynical, opportunistic people should not discourage the genuinely good from acting, and this film covers that angle in spades. Check it out.

I was but a wee lad of 9 years old when I saw this film at the theater. Even then, it captivated my attention and I understood the "message" of the movie. The message was that real superheroes are people that you meet and see in the streets every day; not just some muscle-bound person in a flashy costume. True heroes are ordinary people.

This is a glorious film with a feel-good, no...feel-great ending. John Ritter is supendous as a struggling actor who is suddenly thrust into greatness. The only problem is, the powers that be try to capitalize on this greatness and Ritter soon finds out that being a hero is not all it's cracked up to be.

This film is funny, charming, exciting, sad and heartwarming. Why are such beautiful gems of movie-making like this so often overlooked or forgotten?

Rent or buy this film! You will not be disappointed. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was that toward the last quarter of the film, the pace gets pretty slow, but the climax of the movie more than makes up for it. This is a movie the whole family can enjoy (just a few "minor" cuss-words).

"Who says 'nice guys finish last'?"