SOMEBODY'S HERO (5.3/10) is the story of Dennis (played by Chris Gorham), an accountant who is described by his boss as having the attribute of always being "under the radar", and for that very reason, she gives him the opportunity to handle the account of one of the firm's most important clients: Katie (Susan Misner), a newly widowed single mom with a son named Jake. Katie may have an incredible amount of money, but leads a relatively modest existence as she tries to manage her son's emotional withdrawal from the world following his father's death, and cope with her own loneliness. Her confidante and emotional rock is her devoted housekeeper Maureen, and both Maureen and Katie are worried by Jake's obsession with the comic book/movie action hero Man America. Dennis enters into this household, and is immediately touched by Jake's loneliness, perhaps identifying with his own barren personal life: being a man who lives "under the radar" does not make for a wild bachelor existence. So he offers to try and get Jake to come out of his emotional shell, and, when Katie tells him that Jake only seems interested in something associated with Man America, Dennis decides to rent a Man America costume. But while in the costume store trying on the Man America suit, a criminal with a knife threatens the owner and a businessman there to talk the owner into selling the store. Dennis emerges in the Man America outfit, and his awkward but ultimately successful efforts to ward off the knife-wielding thug are captured on the store's security camera.
The next day, Dennis discovers that his heroics have been picked up on the internet and television, via the security tapes, and he has become a New York City hero. When the businessman he saved urges him to keep playing Man America in order to bring hope to the city, he sees a chance to be something more than just an anonymous "under the radar" accountant. But as his relationship with Jake and Katie deepens, and Katie starts to feel increasingly attracted to the man who seems to be bringing Jake out of his shell, Dennis will be faced with increasing conflict between his professional life, his personal life, and his secret Man America life.
On the positive side, this is a story that makes some interesting points about the real meaning of leading a heroic life, while keeping the mood light with plenty of humor, and even some pratfalls. It also doesn't duck raising some tough questions about whether the obligation to one's family outweighs one's principles. It also touches on the issue of how heroism is sometimes exploited by the unscrupulous for their own selfish ends. The acting and production values for such a low budget film are also excellent, with both the leads making their characters identifiable to the viewer.
On the negative side, the mix between humor and drama is not always handled that well, and many plot points are contrived to advance the plot to where it needs to go next, without a great deal of logic. Some characters are altogether caricatures (Dennis' boss is the most glaring example), and this undercuts the emotional impact of their interaction with Dennis and Katie. A movie like AUGUST RUSH is a good example of a film that gets nearly all these things right, and SOMEBODY'S HERO just doesn't get to that level.
But, taken as a small independent movie made to be family friendly, this is certainly more than passable, if not outstanding. And those tough questions mentioned earlier can be the starting point for some good discussions between parents and children about values and principles; something that any parent can welcome.
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