Hero at Large

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

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.

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.

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.

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.