IMDb RATING
5.9/10
2K
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A struggling actor buying milk stops a robbery while wearing a superhero uniform, promoting a movie. The unknown hero decides to try again. Can he impress his cute neighbor?A struggling actor buying milk stops a robbery while wearing a superhero uniform, promoting a movie. The unknown hero decides to try again. Can he impress his cute neighbor?A struggling actor buying milk stops a robbery while wearing a superhero uniform, promoting a movie. The unknown hero decides to try again. Can he impress his cute neighbor?
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
John Ritter plays a starving actor, whom is signed to portray a movie superhero at a theater promotion. On the way home, while dressed in costume, he foils a robbery. Discovering he enjoys helping to protect people, Ritter begins fighting crime dressed as the costumed superhero.
Ann Archer does a wonderful job as Ritter's love interest. Bert Convey is suitably oily as the PR man who uses Ritter for his own personal gain.
The movie has a great, rousing score, and a genuinely poignant climax. A worthy view
Ann Archer does a wonderful job as Ritter's love interest. Bert Convey is suitably oily as the PR man who uses Ritter for his own personal gain.
The movie has a great, rousing score, and a genuinely poignant climax. A worthy view
Did you know
- TriviaA young Kevin Bacon has a brief part as one of the teenagers at the beginning of the movie who gives Captain Avenger a hard time.
- GoofsAs Steve clearly sits in his cab obviously listening to a portable police scanner, he is clearly still moving the tuner (clearly showing needle movement) while the dispatcher can be clearly heard giving the information about the obviously fleeing criminals.
- Quotes
Steve Nichols: Mind if I drop in?
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Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $15,934,737
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $1,850,725
- Feb 10, 1980
- Gross worldwide
- $15,934,737
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