Of all the reviews I've read to the time of my writing (June 2015), only half a dozen seem to have caught the satire of "Hero." Otherwise, most reviewers saw it as an inspiring story, or as a comedy/tragedy, or just as an entertaining film. It surely has some of all of these things in it. But with those aspects alone, "Hero" is only a fair movie. It's the satire that lifts the film and gives it some life and interest above just fun viewing.
The satire is considerable - very subtle in places and not so in others. It's social commentary on the public adulation of heroes. It's the stereotyping of people who might be able to be heroes. But, mostly, it's about the TV news media and its piranha-esque drive for sensationalist news. And the film has some other aspects that are treated lightly, as if to be OK. Stealing, lying and deceit top the list.
These aspects are interwoven with a "hero" who says selfless things and who acts in kind ways. So, he's inspiring. But the morality is a mixed bag with the dishonesty of the situation. That's part of the story and part of the satire. It's also the part that can be confusing for young people. They may ask, "Do we applaud dishonesty or not?" Or, "Does the end justify the means?"
I can't agree with those who see characters miscast. I think the cast were all excellent in their performances. Dustin Hoffman is spot-on as Bernie. Gena Davis is very good as the once-sure and later conflicted news reporter, Gale. A couple people thought Any Garcia was miscast as the homeless, down and out person who turns around as the hero. But did they see that much turn around? I spent several years in soup kitchens and charity work for homeless folks and got to know a number of them. Garcia's John Bubber is an ideal character - much like half a dozen young men I met over the years. They each had a different story of a past that led them to their current state.
I think Chevy Chase gave the best supporting performance as Deke. He played the hard-nosed, cynical, amoral, sensation-seeking, driven, uncaring and impersonal station news director perfectly. Are all such people that way? Probably not. But this was a good satire of the industry that competes that way. Kevin O'Connor was very good as the self-impressed TV cameraman, Chucky; and Stephen Tobolowsky was good as Wallace, the apparent station manager.
The screenplay and plot were not spectacular. The rest of the technical aspects were OK to good. A big distraction to me was the excessive use of profanity by Hoffman's Bernie. It wasn't necessary for the character or story, and was enough of a distraction to lower the film's overall rating by a notch. And that's reason also to keep older children from watching the film - or for advising the more mature teens on the subject.
Besides the satire, I think the smattering of witty lines or very funny comments make the film most enjoyable. Someone said (perhaps it was in a movie that I watched years ago) that there's a little bit of larceny in everyone. In this film, Garcia's character says something like that and adds that there's a little bit of hero in everyone. This film makes both points clearly. But it leaves the matter of truth and honesty up in the air.
Here are some clever scenes and lines. In his hotel room, the new hero has all sorts of gifts from prominent people. He opens the card on a large fruit basket that reads, "To John Bubber from Barbra Streisand." A good pun of the celebrity industry showing its support for the hero - otherwise to get in the act.
The bartender says to Bernie, "Don't be depressed, Bernie. You don't have to be a hero to be a human being." The news director, Deke, watches John Bubber on camera make remarks about decency and helping the needy, and turns to Wallace, "Have you ever heard more BS or drivel coming from someone who isn't even president?" Bernie, to his son, "The thing about TV is, you don't want to believe what you see. Not always. Not if you're smart."
The satire is considerable - very subtle in places and not so in others. It's social commentary on the public adulation of heroes. It's the stereotyping of people who might be able to be heroes. But, mostly, it's about the TV news media and its piranha-esque drive for sensationalist news. And the film has some other aspects that are treated lightly, as if to be OK. Stealing, lying and deceit top the list.
These aspects are interwoven with a "hero" who says selfless things and who acts in kind ways. So, he's inspiring. But the morality is a mixed bag with the dishonesty of the situation. That's part of the story and part of the satire. It's also the part that can be confusing for young people. They may ask, "Do we applaud dishonesty or not?" Or, "Does the end justify the means?"
I can't agree with those who see characters miscast. I think the cast were all excellent in their performances. Dustin Hoffman is spot-on as Bernie. Gena Davis is very good as the once-sure and later conflicted news reporter, Gale. A couple people thought Any Garcia was miscast as the homeless, down and out person who turns around as the hero. But did they see that much turn around? I spent several years in soup kitchens and charity work for homeless folks and got to know a number of them. Garcia's John Bubber is an ideal character - much like half a dozen young men I met over the years. They each had a different story of a past that led them to their current state.
I think Chevy Chase gave the best supporting performance as Deke. He played the hard-nosed, cynical, amoral, sensation-seeking, driven, uncaring and impersonal station news director perfectly. Are all such people that way? Probably not. But this was a good satire of the industry that competes that way. Kevin O'Connor was very good as the self-impressed TV cameraman, Chucky; and Stephen Tobolowsky was good as Wallace, the apparent station manager.
The screenplay and plot were not spectacular. The rest of the technical aspects were OK to good. A big distraction to me was the excessive use of profanity by Hoffman's Bernie. It wasn't necessary for the character or story, and was enough of a distraction to lower the film's overall rating by a notch. And that's reason also to keep older children from watching the film - or for advising the more mature teens on the subject.
Besides the satire, I think the smattering of witty lines or very funny comments make the film most enjoyable. Someone said (perhaps it was in a movie that I watched years ago) that there's a little bit of larceny in everyone. In this film, Garcia's character says something like that and adds that there's a little bit of hero in everyone. This film makes both points clearly. But it leaves the matter of truth and honesty up in the air.
Here are some clever scenes and lines. In his hotel room, the new hero has all sorts of gifts from prominent people. He opens the card on a large fruit basket that reads, "To John Bubber from Barbra Streisand." A good pun of the celebrity industry showing its support for the hero - otherwise to get in the act.
The bartender says to Bernie, "Don't be depressed, Bernie. You don't have to be a hero to be a human being." The news director, Deke, watches John Bubber on camera make remarks about decency and helping the needy, and turns to Wallace, "Have you ever heard more BS or drivel coming from someone who isn't even president?" Bernie, to his son, "The thing about TV is, you don't want to believe what you see. Not always. Not if you're smart."