Stephen Frears’ Hero is a bittersweet comedy-drama that explores the blurry line between truth, image, and integrity in an age obsessed with media-made heroes. Starring Dustin Hoffman, Geena Davis and Andy Garcia, the film delivers warmth and irony in equal measure, showing how decency can emerge from even the most cynical souls.
Hoffman plays Bernie LaPlante, a Chicago pickpocket and small-time con artist perpetually on the brink of ruin. Divorced, broke, and facing jail time, Bernie stumbles into heroism one stormy night when a plane crashes on a desolate road.
Grumbling all the way, he pries open the emergency door, helps dozens of terrified passengers to safety—including television reporter Gale Gayley (Davis)—and disappears into the darkness after stealing her purse and losing a shoe.
When Gale’s station offers a million-dollar reward for the mysterious “Angel of Flight 104,” Bernie realizes he can’t come forward due to his pending criminal charges.
Enter John Bubber (Garcia), a gentle, homeless veteran who happens to have given Bernie a lift that night—and now finds himself impersonating a national hero after producing Bernie’s lost shoe as proof.
The media and public embrace John’s image of selfless goodness, while the real savior languishes in anonymity and scorn.
As Gale investigates, she falls for John’s kindness and begins to question the nature of heroism itself.
Meanwhile, Bernie wrestles with jealousy, guilt, and the absurdity of a world that demands neat narratives—saints and sinners neatly sorted by appearance.
When the inevitable confrontation comes, it culminates not in anger but in self-recognition, as both men realize that being a hero isn’t about glory, but about grace.
Hoffman’s performance anchors the film with manic energy and bruised humanity. His Bernie is selfish, funny, and oddly relatable—a man dragged into virtue against his will.
Garcia’s quiet dignity provides the perfect foil, while Davis brings warmth and moral curiosity to her role as the journalist who sees beyond her own story.
Joan Cusack enlivens the domestic chaos as Bernie’s exasperated ex-wife, grounding the film in emotional realism.
Kevin J. O’Connor, Maury Chaykin, Tom Arnold, Stephen Tobolowsky, Richard Reihle, Jeff Garlin, Daniel Baldwin, Michael Talbott, Edward Herrmann, Fisher Stevens and Chevy Chase round out the supporting cast.
Geena Davis and Andy Garcia in Hero (Photo/Columbia Pictures)
Reception for Hero
Hero grossed $5.2 million on its opening weekend, finishing fourth at the box office.
The film would gross $67 million worldwide.
Roger Ebert gave Hero two out of four stars in his review.
Legacy
Hero received mixed reviews upon release, with some calling it tonally uneven, but it has since gained affection as an overlooked satire with heart. Today, it plays as both a caper and a moral fable—an exploration of how integrity can flourish under layers of irony and disguise.
Hero endures as a witty, wistful reminder that real decency rarely seeks recognition, and that sometimes, the most reluctant heroes leave the deepest mark.
