Some Kind of Hero
by Michael Pressman
List Price:
Our Price: $6.19
You Save: $8.76 (59%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Margot Kidder, Richard PryorDirector: Michael Pressman
Brand: SOME KIND OF HERO (DVD MOVIE)
Cinematographer: King Baggot
Composer: Patrick Williams
Editor: Christopher Greenbury
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 97 minutes
Published: 2008-06-01
DVD Release Date: 2008-06-03
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Model: LF00220
Studio: Legend Films
Movie Reviews of Some Kind of Hero
Movie Review: Not your ordinary prisoner of war movie
Summary: 3 Stars
Of all Richard Pryor's films, this one has to rank up there as one of the strangest. To begin with, it's a comedy/drama that's partly set in a POW camp during the Vietnam War. If you think that kind of set-up sounds like Roberto Benigni's Life is Beautiful (97) you would be wrong. The POW camp depicted in this film looks more like it was filmed around some bungalows in the Hollywood Hills. Pryor has some good (albeit minimal) interplay with another American POW (played convincingly by the underrated Ray Sharkey) and a four legged friend he calls "Spike" but eventually he is freed and the film shifts to Pryor's character trying to adjust back to life stateside. This is where the film begins to take a nosedive. One wonders what the film might have been like if it was set entirely in the POW camp and was more dramatic. Pryor was a brilliant comedian and a great actor (see him in his best film performance in Blue Collar from 1978). He was always able to handle the more serious material in his films than people give him credit for. Pryor had a dark side himself and that came through a little in each of his roles. The problem with Some Kind of Hero is that it seems like nobody trusted Pryor to play the whole thing straight. Don't get me wrong, there are a few moments when I was laughing out loud (like the scene when Pryor reunites with his wife in the hotel room and his reaction to what she tells him has happened with her since he's been away) and the movie isn't a complete stinker, but do not expect Silver Streak (76) or Stir Crazy (80) from this one. All in all, The Toy (which was also released in '82) is a better vehicle for Pryor's talents and likability. This movie takes an interesting subplot involving Pryor's character and a prostitute (played excellently by Lois Lane herself, Margot Kidder) and wastes it on a lame denouement involving Pryor stealing some money and encountering some mobsters. I digress, this could have been Pryor's Stalag 17 or to some degree his Midnight Express or The Deer Hunter. Instead, it was just another forgettable dramedy. It's still worth a watch for the performances (including Ronny Cox in a small but memorable role) and mostly for fans of all things Richard Pryor. I myself had been waiting a long time for this one to come out on DVD and I was not disappointed, but I knew exactly what I was getting myself into.
Summary of Some Kind of Hero
Studio: Legend Films Inc. Release Date: 06/03/2008 Run time: 97 minutes Rating: RSimilar DVD Movies
See No Evil, Hear No EvilIMG; Release date: 2010-12-07; DVD
Best price: $4.72
Price in other shops:
The Richard Pryor Collection (Which Way is Up?/ Brewster`s Millions/ Car Wash/ Bustin` Loose)NBC Universal; Release date: 2006-02-07; DVD
Best price: $7.94
Price in other shops:
Bustin' LooseUniversal Studios; Release date: 2005-01-11; DVD
Best price: $4.02
Price in other shops:
Blue Collar (Amazon.com Exclusive)Release date: 2010-01-11; DVD
Best price: $19.98
Brewster's MillionsPRYOR,RICHARD; Release date: 2002-05-21; DVD
Best price: $2.85
Price in other shops:
The ToyPRYOR,RICHARD; Release date: 2001-11-13; DVD
Best price: $4.58
Price in other shops:
Silver StreakFox; Release date: 2004-12-14; DVD
Best price: $4.04
Price in other shops:
Stir CrazyPRYOR,RICHARD; Release date: 2004-07-15; DVD
Best price: $6.98
Price in other shops:
Moving/ Greased LightningWarner Brothers; Release date: 2006-08-22; DVD
Best price: $6.90
Price in other shops:
Critical ConditionRelease date: 2004-07-06; Published: 2004-07-01; DVD
Best price: $20.00