Hero (1992)

A not-so-nice man rescues passengers from a crashed airliner, only to see someone else take credit.

Director:

Stephen Frears

Writers:

Laura Ziskin (story), Alvin Sargent (story)

Stars:

Dustin Hoffman, Geena Davis, Andy Garcia

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dustin Hoffman	...	Bernie LaPlante
Geena Davis	...	Gale Gayley
Andy Garcia	...	John Bubber
Joan Cusack	...	Evelyn
Kevin J. O'Connor	...	Chucky
Maury Chaykin	...	Winston
Stephen Tobolowsky	...	Wallace
Christian Clemenson	...	Conklin
Tom Arnold	...	Chick
Warren Berlinger	...	Judge Goines
Cady Huffman	...	Flight Attendant Leslie
Susie Cusack	...	Donna O'Day
James Madio	...	Joey
Richard Riehle	...	Robinson
Daniel Baldwin	...	Fireman Denton (as Daniel Leroy Baldwin)

Storyline

Bernie LaPlante is having a rough time. He's divorced, his ex-wife hates him, and has custody of their son. The cops are setting a trap for him, then to top it all, he loses a shoe while rescuing passengers of a plane crash. Being a thief who is down on his luck, he takes advantage of the rescue, but then someone else claims credit for it.

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Plot Keywords:

unlikely hero | reluctant hero | stealing credit | firefighter | bartender | 

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Taglines:

We're all heroes if you catch us at the right moment. Even Bernie LaPlante.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for uses of strong language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 October 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hero and a Half

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$42,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,210,875, 4 October 1992

Gross USA:

$19,507,345

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$19,507,345

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

At the end of the meeting in Channel 4 News Director Deke's office, during which Gale Gayley (Geena Davis) gets her plane tickets, Deke (Chevy Chase) said to her "Party on, Gale. Is that what they say?" "Party on" is a catchphrase in the Wayne's World movies and the recurring sketch created by Mike Myers and Dana Carvey, which aired at that time on Saturday Night Live (1975), of which Chevy Chase was an original cast member.

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Goofs

When Bernie and John are driving in stop and go traffic the car they are in doesn't move. All the cars around it inch up and move in reverse through the entire conversation.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Judge Goines: Mr. foreman, have you arrived at a verdict?

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Crazy Credits

Special thanks to the people of Piru and Filmore, California; the people of Cook County, Illinois.

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Connections

Referenced in Decker: Sonrise (2017)

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Soundtracks

The Battle Hymn of the Republic
(uncredited)
Music by William Steffe
Arranged by George Fenton and Jeff Atmajian
In the score several times

User Reviews

A very good satire

It has already been a while since I've seen a movie with Dustin Hoffman in it, which is really a shame. I've always admired his work and once again he proves to be a very talented actor with this movie.

This time he's playing Bernie Laplante, a little criminal who hasn't really had much luck in recent times. He's constantly having a fight with his ex over his son, he lives in a miserable apartment, he drives an incredibly old car... But than a plane crashes just right in front of his nose. And even though he has always been described as antisocial, he saves the lives of 54 people by opening the airplane's door and helping everybody out.

One of the people he has saved is a TV reporter. She immediately sees a good story in it and wants to interview him. But because she, nor her news station know who he is, they will give him one million dollar in return for an interview. All they know is that he has lost a size 10 shoe in the mud. Of course hundreds of people claim to be him, but one homeless guy, who got the other shoe from him, really can make them believe he's the true hero. He gets the million and makes up a beautiful story on how he all did it. Of course Bernie sees this (when he is in jail) and decides to confront the man with the truth.

This movie may not appeal to everybody, because not everybody may appreciate this kind of humor. Personally I find this a very good satire, that has actually a good point. In their search for sensational, touching news, TV stations will do really everything and seem to forget that the most important thing is still reality. If you are looking for a good comedy, with some fine acting and a good story, than this movie is really something you should try. I give it a 7.5/10.