Hero at Large (1980)
By Eric Grigs | May 2, 2020
To say that the market is now flooded with superhero content on movie and TV screens is an understatement. But there was a time when the Marvel Cinematic Universe would be decades off in the future and most people’s comic book references were 1966’s Batman show and 1978’s Superman: The Movie. Both of those examples come from a time when comics (or as my grandmother referred to them, funny books) were full of bright costumes and tended to have a lighter, less grim tone. Shockingly, even some of the adventures took place in the daytime.
So it makes a lot of sense that John Ritter, beloved for his elaborate pratfalls and dimpled cheek smiles, would land himself in a pair of tights at the height of his Three’s Company popularity. The 1980 film Hero at Large resembles a lot of movies from the time: comedy, action, love story, family flick—all rolled into one—and not particularly worried about fitting squarely into one specific genre so a Blockbuster store clerk would know in which aisle its VHS tape belonged.
As much as today’s comic book movies like to proclaim they are grounded in a “real world” take, this film schools them on what might actually happen if someone donned a costume to fight crime. (Many have noted that Kick-Ass owes a debt of gratitude here.) Sure, countless good Samaritans have encountered robbery or violence and suddenly summoned the bravery to intercede, but then what? After being bitten by the vigilante bug and deciding to make heroics a habit by actively seeking out street crime to foil, it doesn’t take long to realize the bad guys have real guns and dodging bullets isn’t easy. Get shot once and you’ll probably quickly call it a day and hang up the suit. That’s what most people would do, and that’s what happens here.
Also, the real evil forces aren’t street level thugs—they’re the corrupt mayor and his slimy public relations henchman (played by the underrated but always excellent Bert Convy) who entice Ritter’s good guy character to fake his way through some heroism in support of the mayor’s reelection. (Hello, brand collaboration, cross-promotion, and media influencing before it became a thing!) People believe, the press finds out, people turn on him, and our hero’s fall from grace is headline news. Already, there’s more “grounded reality” in these situations than much of today’s greenscreened comic book CGI-fests filled with motion capture fighting. Hero at Large delivers a solid exploration of the question “what if someone actually decided to be a caped crusader in the real world,” right up until the film gives Ritter’s Captain Avenger an all too quick, Disney-ified redemption ending. But hey, this is obviously marketed to a family audience. After all, aren’t comic books meant to be fun kids’ stuff?
For a movie from 40 years ago, the ideas here were somewhat ahead of its time, but the execution is totally 80s. Although, both then as now, it’s rare when big screen superheroes aren’t adaptations of existing characters from major publishing houses. Notably, Captain Avenger was an original creation made specifically for this movie (actually, a movie within a movie—how meta), so there’s no previous reference point for the audience. It feels new and the story mostly has the freedom to go anywhere it wants.
The biggest recommendation for Hero at Large is the endless, breezy charisma on display that Ritter brought to everything he did. There’s a lot to love about the way he embodies both the down on his luck, low on work actor alter-ego and also his superhero counterpart. Ritter commits fully to the earnestness, charm, and altruism that has basically vanished from modern interpretations of superheroes. It’s a refreshing reminder of the types of class acts we expected to see behind the masks.
Similarly, Anne Archer as his neighbor and love interest, matches him on every level with her grace, and a hint of mystery, that’s cut from old Hollywood cloth. Both leads have that “it factor” to keep you involved through some of the slower pacing that is a hallmark of movies from this time. Interestingly, Archer auditioned for the role of Lois Lane in the original Superman movie, so maybe this was some small consolation prize, and another fun “what if” to consider.
Comparing it to that more well-known take on a caped big blue boy scout, Hero at Large won’t make you believe a man can fly, but it’s still worth revisiting this minor cult favorite to make you wish there was a little more joy to be had again in comic movies of today.
Eric Grigs is a pop culture writer, artist, and co-host of the Pop Trash Podcast.