The right ingredients were all there. A great cast, some interesting characters, a timely concept, but somehow they just weren't mixed together properly. The story is actually believable to some extent. That wasn't the problem. More than anything the most disappointing thing they did was make Hoffman's character such a grouch.
Hero is the story of a shady and down-on-his-luck guy who happens to be in the right place at the right time to rescue an entire plane load of passengers after a crash. Trouble is, he leaves the scene before anyone can figure out who he is, and another down-on-his-luck guy (Andy Garcia) ends up taking the credit for the rescue. This credit includes a million dollar reward and all the admiration from the public. Meanwhile, Hoffman has been put away for fencing stolen credit cards. He cannot get out in time to prove to anyone that he in fact did the heroic deed. Any time he tries he is basically shouted down, and nobody would really believe such a shady guy like him would do such a thing, anyway. A subplot involves Hoffman trying to win the admiration of his son who lives with his mother and her new man. Garcia, in the whirlwind of public attention also wins over a newswoman who was also on the plane played by Geena Davis. The comedic aspects of the film get bogged down in too much sentimentality, and the "message aspect" of the film ends up brooding over things.
Hero has it's good parts. Davis and Garcia are actually pretty good. Davis being the plucky reporter who has the most insight into Garcia's situation. Garcia is obviously no saint, but he takes the opportunity to try and help inspire other people to become heroes themselves. Chevey Chase, uncredited, is hilarious as a network news big shot. There are some very memorable scenes. The plane crash was obviously done on the cheap, as we don't even see it until it is already down, but the scene where Hoffman rescues the passengers is somewhat believable. Hoffman has some funny scenes, but he should have had more of them. And that is the main problem with this film. Hoffman is TOO unlikeable. I don't know how many times he says "goddamm", but it's just too many. He has a funny scene in a court room where he suggests the judge double his bail since he thinks he's about to cash in on a big reward. This scene has the right tone for his character. Joan Cusak as his ex-wife is excruciatingly annoying. And there is a cameraman who takes his job way too seriously and is also annoying. In addition, it just isn't logical how Hoffman's character is unable to properly explain to anyone that he is in fact the hero and not Garcia.
In sum, this film is watchable but should have been better. At least funnier. We as a society do in fact worship people who do not in any way deserve such admiration. There is no doubting that. I just wish this film could have told this to us with more pizazz. 5 of 10 stars.
The Hound.
Hero is the story of a shady and down-on-his-luck guy who happens to be in the right place at the right time to rescue an entire plane load of passengers after a crash. Trouble is, he leaves the scene before anyone can figure out who he is, and another down-on-his-luck guy (Andy Garcia) ends up taking the credit for the rescue. This credit includes a million dollar reward and all the admiration from the public. Meanwhile, Hoffman has been put away for fencing stolen credit cards. He cannot get out in time to prove to anyone that he in fact did the heroic deed. Any time he tries he is basically shouted down, and nobody would really believe such a shady guy like him would do such a thing, anyway. A subplot involves Hoffman trying to win the admiration of his son who lives with his mother and her new man. Garcia, in the whirlwind of public attention also wins over a newswoman who was also on the plane played by Geena Davis. The comedic aspects of the film get bogged down in too much sentimentality, and the "message aspect" of the film ends up brooding over things.
Hero has it's good parts. Davis and Garcia are actually pretty good. Davis being the plucky reporter who has the most insight into Garcia's situation. Garcia is obviously no saint, but he takes the opportunity to try and help inspire other people to become heroes themselves. Chevey Chase, uncredited, is hilarious as a network news big shot. There are some very memorable scenes. The plane crash was obviously done on the cheap, as we don't even see it until it is already down, but the scene where Hoffman rescues the passengers is somewhat believable. Hoffman has some funny scenes, but he should have had more of them. And that is the main problem with this film. Hoffman is TOO unlikeable. I don't know how many times he says "goddamm", but it's just too many. He has a funny scene in a court room where he suggests the judge double his bail since he thinks he's about to cash in on a big reward. This scene has the right tone for his character. Joan Cusak as his ex-wife is excruciatingly annoying. And there is a cameraman who takes his job way too seriously and is also annoying. In addition, it just isn't logical how Hoffman's character is unable to properly explain to anyone that he is in fact the hero and not Garcia.
In sum, this film is watchable but should have been better. At least funnier. We as a society do in fact worship people who do not in any way deserve such admiration. There is no doubting that. I just wish this film could have told this to us with more pizazz. 5 of 10 stars.
The Hound.