Some Kind of Hero

1982 "Richard Pryor is in a new kind of comedy... about some kind of hero... in some kind of mess."
5.8| 1h37m| R| en
Details

A Vietnam vet returns home from a prisoner of war camp and is greeted as a hero, but is quickly forgotten and soon discovers how tough survival is in his own country.

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Reviews

Matialth Good concept, poorly executed.
Bergorks If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.
Portia Hilton Blistering performances.
Matho The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.
Benedito Dias Rodrigues 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
Mark Dragicevic MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS I remember seeing this on video in the mid-late 80s - and still can't get a Region 2 DVD of this one, so make do with a VHS copy made many years ago.Based on James Kirkwood's novel, Pryor does his typical (sometimes foul mouthed) routines as a POW returning to find his life has fallen apart. The early dramatic scenes have quite an impact, actually more so than the comedic scenes.Pryor tries hard with the material and there are some genuinely funny moments (the signing of the confession is one).Ronny Cox offers sturdy support and Margot Kidder plays the 'tart with a heart' who eventually drives off into the sunset with Pryor and $100,000 to boot!I've always had a soft spot for this movie, and was unjustly ignored at the box office. Pryor's screen presence carries this one, but this is still no way a turkey.
Mikelito 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.
pwmoses This film starts off like an extremely poignant drama. The bond between Richard Pryor and Ray Sharkey in the POW camp is seamlessly acted. The musical score by Patrick Williams is outstanding and very sad. The films middle is just as good, with very moving parts with Pryor returning from war to deal with problems with his mother, his wife, and his life. However, after this the film goes awry. The films keeps its respectability however, because Pryor is such a good actor.