Hero at Large
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Martin Davidson
Written by	AJ Carothers
Produced by	Stephen J. Friedman
Starring	John Ritter Anne Archer Bert Convy Kevin McCarthy
Cinematography	David M. Walsh
Edited by	David Garfield
Music by	Patrick Williams
Production company	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Distributed by	United Artists (United States/Canada) Cinema International Corporation (International)
Release date	February 8, 1980 (1980-02-08)
Running time	98 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$15.9 million

Hero at Large is a 1980 American superhero comedy film starring John Ritter and Anne Archer.^[1]

The film was written by AJ Carothers and directed by Martin Davidson. The original music score was composed by Patrick Williams.

Plot

Steve Nichols is a struggling New York City actor who accepts the job of posing as comic-book hero for the needs of a film's promotion. After he stops a robbery while wearing the "Captain Avenger" costume, his life becomes unexpectedly complicated. Nichols decides to continue "playing" superhero and discovers that a hero's life is more complex than he expected.^[2]

Nichols is hired by the Mayor's staff who hope the Captain Avenger's tie-in will win votes for an upcoming election. The plan is ultimately discovered and exposed by the media, leaving Captain Avenger on the outs with the public. Encouraged by his girlfriend, Jolene, to not rely on the costume and mask to gain adulation, Nichols later becomes a bona fide hero when he rescues a child from a burning apartment building.

Cast

In addition, Joyce Brothers has a cameo as herself, while Penny Crone, an Emmy Award-winning reporter in the New York City market, has an uncredited cameo as a reporter.

Reception

Roger Ebert gave the film two out of four stars and called it "a big, dumb, silly, good-hearted albatross of a comedy". He said that although the film might appeal to fans of Ritter, it did not appeal to him.^[1]