Hero at Large

This role is one of Ritters' best performances in a highly acclaimed career. His portrayal of a really nice and well-meaning guy, who has to make a tough ethical decision to help him pay his bills, is thoughtful and funny at the same time without being over-the-top Jack Tripper funny. Ritter and the Director give a great real-world look at super-heroes. How does he get to crime scenes? Can he dodge bullets? Where does a super hero get medical attention?

In a way it's sort of a misnomer to call him a super hero since he doesn't actually have any super powers, but his willingness to put himself in danger to help others is the core value that all super heroes must have. The fact that he goes out and tries to stop crimes anyway, without super powers, makes him even more courageous than a true comic book hero in a way.

Before movies like Unbreakable and Spiderman came along I called this movie the best super hero movie ever made. No special effects other than a few fires. No flying through the air. Just a real guy showing that courage and caring are what's really important. One of the best feel-good endings of any movie ever made.

Steve (John Ritter) is a struggling Manhattan actor with a string of part time jobs to help make the rent. Even then, its a struggle, although his apartment is modest at best. One day, he gets a gig as a film promoter. The job calls for him, as well as two dozen other lads, to dress as a superhero, Captain Avenger, and stir up interest around the theater where the movie will premiere. On the way home, Steve's still in costume, half covered with a jacket, when he stops at a local carryout for milk. Its near closing time but the elderly couple let him in. Following Steve, unfortunately, is a would-be robber, who gallops in the door. Disappearing around a corner, Steve comes back as the masked crusader and scares the thief away. The couple is most grateful. The next day, as Steve ponders if he can help someone else in "distress", he gets a look at his new female neighbor, Ms. Marsh (Anne Archer). Wow, is she classy and pretty! From day one, the handsome, engaging actor is in hot pursuit, even though Ms. Marsh does not encourage his attentions. Meanwhile, news of Steve's heroism at the carryout reaches the film's producer (Bert Convy) and he asks to Steve to help "stage" more rescues to increase the box office takes. Will Steve get a real job and win the heart of his neighbor? This is a nice little film with semi-large laughs for the romcom crowd or fans of Ritter. Our John does a fine job, as does the beautiful Archer and the rest of the crew. Yes, the sets, costumes, and amenities are merely average but the script has some clever and inspiring moments while the direction is lively. Do look for Hero, romance-and-comedy fans. You will be sweetly entertained.

Steve Nichols (John Ritter) is a struggling New York City actor who unable to get his "break" moonlights as a cab driver and dressing up in costume as Captain Avenger to promote the B-level film of the same name. On his way home one evening stopping at grocery store for milk, two thugs attempt a robbery and Steve still in costume gets the drop on them saving the store owner and his wife. The story takes New York City by storm with the Captain Avenger movie seeing record business and many in the media and publicity circuit looking to capitalize including the struggling incumbent mayor. Steve's neighbor, Jolene Walsh (Anne Archer) eventually discovers his secret and assists him in what ways she can despite not completely approving of Steve's playing "hero", and the two begin a friendship and possible romance.

Released in 1980, Hero at Large was released at the height of Three's Company's popularity. While John Ritter had become a popular staple of TV, he often struggling with headlining features with his films subjected to rather middling responses. Hero at Large did okay in its quiet February release slot, with contemporary views being very middle of the road and the majority of the film's exposure coming from airings on cable TV. In the years since it's release, Hero at Large has seen something of a resurgence in interest thanks to the prevalence of superhero themed comedies with entries such as Kick-Ass, Super, Defendor, and others. Hero at Large doesn't go as far with its premise as it could've, but as a prototype for this kind of film built around the framework of a romantic comedy it's pretty easy viewing.

John Ritter is what sells the movie. Hero at Large at its core takes the traditional trappings of seen in the glut of vigilante films of the 70s and 80s and files down their rougher edges filtering them through the lens of the goofy optimistic sincerity of the Richard Donner/Christopher Reeve Superman films. Ritter is just an absurd level of nice and pleasant in the lead which makes him the perfect person for this role. Steve isn't interested in fame or glory and only does his amateur super heroics because he wants to do good. Anne Archer is also good playing the love interest Jolene Walsh who contrasts with Steve's outlandish likability and altruism embodying a more cynical and grounded persona. The scenes of them interacting together are filled with charm going from chance roommates to something more quite naturally. The romance is definitely the strongest part as the superhero section is rather scant.

While there are scenes of Steve engaging in superhero shenanigans, they're very brief save for a scene in the climax. There are sequences where we see hints of the larger scale of events inspired by Steve's actions such as a round table panel discussion show with notable pop psychologist Joyce Brothers playing herself espousing the virtues of Steve's outings as Captain Avenger, but this side of the movie feels underdeveloped with a rather low frills take on the material as there's really only five (though technically three) scenes where we see Steve in proper action. There's also a subplot with an unpopular mayoral incumbent wishing to utilize the Captain Avenger popularity to prop up his own limping campaign, but it doesn't really go anywhere save for leading to Steve's third act nadir.

Hero at Large is basically the prototype for the Superhero comedy subgenre and as a prototype you can definitely see the appeal and promise, but not much polish on the delivery. While the superhero aspect is played up in the marketing of the movie, Hero at Large is without question first and foremost a romantic comedy, and as a romantic comedy it has everything it needs with two solid leads, engaging chemistry, and a gentle but likable sense of humor. Hero at Large is the kind of movie that's nigh impossible to dislike and makes for a cute and pleasant little film.

A 2 bit actor turns his part time job of hyping a movie into becoming a public defender, of sorts. His daring exploits unite the community and provide the mayor with a political boost. Plus, the hero finds love along the way. Nice, easy little production.

There's a lot going on with "Hero At Large." Notably, this is a film that was, for the bulk of it, made on location in NYC, circa 1979. That fact alone would be enough to recommend it, because it gives you a glimpse into what the city was about at that time, how it looked, what was playing at local movie houses and on Broadway, and what was important to its residents.

But this film goes well beyond the basics of the setting. And that's due to a meaningful script by A.J. Carothers and a truly remarkable performance by John Ritter.

In some ways, Ritter's character here is in a similar situation to Dustin Hoffman's character in 1982's "Tootsie." He plays an out of work actor who is desperate to get a part in a play, or even a commercial just to make the rent. When he books the role of Captain Avenger, a comic book hero who is the star of a cheesy live action film, he's not the motion picture actor, he's the stooge signing 8 x 10s outside of the theater dressed in the character's costume, one of dozens of actors playing the part all over town! But on the way home from his gig, when his local grocer gets held up at knife-point, he uses that costume to thwart the street toughs and saves the day! His interest in his next door neighbor, J. (Anne Archer) helps to fuel his heroics, and he finds himself starting to take chances to help people and win her attention and affection, and to make a statement about what's really important.

A surprise is Bert Convy, who was known for his "nice guy" image, here goes against type as the sleazy PR manager, who was in charge of both the Captain Avenger film and the Mayoral Campaign of the incumbent, who sees a way of tying the two together, based on the genuine heroics of the actor, that regular guy trying to make people think about a bigger idea(l).

This is a New York movie, through and through, but it's the heart of the film that makes it special and that's due to John Ritter. His performance is always genuine, never hits a wrong note and is a tribute to the actor himself. It's those elements that take this film to soaring heights! Plus there are cameos by some of the city's longtime television reporters: Who knew that Penny Crone had brown hair at one time?

Hero At Large may not be the greatest superhero film ever, but it's better than many that are longer on special effects and much shorter on story.