Some Kind of Hero (1982)

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

The acting in this movie is really good.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Richard Pryor and Margot Kidder act in this film about a POW who returns home to the United States particularly Los Angeles, California dealing with his wife and mother. The film has a great cast such as Olivia Cole, Lynne Moody and Anne Haney in supporting roles. Richard Pryor was a terrific actor as well as comedian. This film was on a DVD that I found at the store. It's a great little gem of a movie.

Who already follow the Pryor's career will be surprised about this serious role in this anti-war movie,based on a book this picture bring to us an another and hidden Pryor's profile,without losing focus of course,he takes all bitter experience from a soldier who was at Vietinam's POW and all this is handling by USA's Army when be back,the real problem begin when he realize that he isn't hero anymore,he have judgment after he'd signs a complete confession to save a soldier's life,forgotten by his wife and worst by own country is too much for him...all mixed with good jokes and con behavior take the picture a pleasant entertainment!! Resume: First watch: 1994 / How many: 4 / Source: TV-VHS-DVD-R / Rating: 7

This is strictly for Pryor fans. Just because he was a great, funny guy doesn't mean this is more than a B-Movie. The script is awful, it just meanders around constantly ridiculing crime and prisoners of war. It balances between comedy and melodrama and keeps falling on its face doing justice to neither. First there are 30 minutes of rather unrealistic, uninspired Vietnam prisoner of war time – the guy is playing basketball at one point... How more can you pander to your audience?... That prison time is boring, unconvincing and already can easily put one to sleep. Back in the U.S. the guy for no real reason at all is considered a "war hero". Yet he is of course quickly forgotten by the public and seems to be stumbling into all kinds of wacky mishaps. Or are they really? We will soon find out. Yawn. There are annoying clichés: his sick mother, his little daughter he never meets, a high end whore falling in love with the hero etc. It is very odd how this movie constantly switches from tragedy to slapstick in one instant. Doesn't work at all. Overall this in fact is just a bad comedy and does a disservice to prisoners of war. Just because this guy was a great stand-up comedian, played in a few good movies and died of MS is no reason not to be annoyed by this silly, unconvincing, unfunny comedy. But if you like Richard Pryor you will probably be thrilled by him reading 3 hours of Dadaist poetry.

Richard Pryor is the reason to see this movie. He takes a somewhat ordinary story, of a soldier who returns home from a Vietnam POW camp, to a less than welcome home, and makes it a better movie. His trying to look tough and menacing, and acting it out in front of a mirror, is really good ("Freeze, sucka! Get DOWN!!"), and then having all his efforts totally evaporate at the bank! A welcome movie to see, I recommend it. 7/10