Procura-se um Herói

I watched this movie when I was like six. I loved it then. I was thinking about it today and decided to rent it. I have no idea why I thought of it. Just out of the blue. But it really holds up well. It is a fun little film and John Ritter and Ann Archer are really marvelous. I highly recommend it. The film is really remarkable on a lot of levels.

John Ritter stars in this good hearted comedy as Steve Nichols who is a struggling actor looking for his next acting gig. He lands a job playing Captain Avenger with a bunch of other actors signing autographs at the theatres where the new movie is playing. Look for Kevin Bacon who plays a youngster outside of the theatre. After that night he goes to a corner store, but two thugs enter after him and try to hold the place up. Nichols still wearing his Captain Avenger uniform prevents the store from being robbed and thus begins his new acting role playing a superhero. Thing is he doesn't have any super powers. Anne Archer plays his neighbour J. Marsh that he takes a liking to. Bert Convy plays Walter Reeves and Kevin McCarthy plays Calvin Donnelly who want Captain Avenger to stand with the mayor (Leonard Harris) to be re-elected in the city of New York.

It's not bad and Ritter makes it watchable. The ending though to me does not seem enough to conclude the film perfectly to me, seems a little slapdash to me, not to mention incredibly dangerous for an ordinary man or woman to try, which is what Steve Nichols is. That is why they do have fire departments. Kenneth Tobey plays the firechief. Certainly worth a watch though.

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.

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 actor. PR man Walter Reeves (Bert Convy) hires him and others to dress up as Captain Avenger to promote a cheesy superhero movie. Steve stops a robbery at a grocery store which becomes local news. Reeves is working to re-elect the mayor and sees value in a superhero making the citizens feel good. He searches to find which of the 62 actors he hired is the Captain Avenger hero. Steve has a crush on his neighbor Jolene Marsh (Anne Archer) who slowly takes a liking to his non-stop flirting.

John Ritter is a really likable actor. His charming personality is mostly what this movie has to offer. The rest is functional but not much more. Anne Archer is fine but the movie needs a better villain. It is a superhero movie after all. The plot lacks tension. This all boils down to Ritter being such a nice charming guy.