American Hero (2016)

Review

85min

Genre:      Action, Comedy, Drama

Director:   Nick Love

Cast:        Stephen Dorff, Eddie Griffin, Andrea Cohen…and more

Writer:     Nick Love

-Synopsis-

Stephen Dorff stars as a fast-living Louisiana deadbeat dad with supernatural powers, who decides to drastically change his life after a near-death experience and use his powers to help his community and fight crime instead of committing it.

British writer/director Nick Love takes a break from London crime and hooligan action/dramas to hop across the pond for an American redemption story with a twist in this unique indie take on the now ubiquitous superhero movie.

Set in struggling, post hurricane Katrina New Orleans, ‘American Hero’ is the story of “Melvin”; a divorced, fast-living, substance-abusing petty criminal who has mysterious telekinetic powers, thanks to “unusual” brain activity, and who decides to clean up his act after a health scare, helping the community and as a way to see his court-ordered estranged young son.

At first glance you might be reminded of Will Smith’s 2008 film ‘Hancock’, and ‘American Hero’ does share that central non-traditional “superhero” theme of a “blessed” individual who wastes away his talent and does more damage than good.

But despite a couple of action set-pieces and some decent special effects for a low budget “indie”, the “superhero” element here is almost incidental and little more than an unusual hook for a gritty, well-shot urban dramedy about unfulfilled potential and redemption.

Stalwart of American independent film Stephen Dorff stars as a depressing but realistic vision of what a modern day American superhero would probably look like, alongside comedian Eddie Griffin as his fast talking wheelchair-bound best friend; in what is essentially an unconventional “hood” drama about a man fighting against his self-destructive proclivities and instincts to be an observer in life rather than a participant, all in an effort to do right by his young son.

But ‘American Hero’ never really commits to anything it’s trying to be; as a character drama it’s unconvincing and not helped by the jumping back and forth between a fly-on-the-wall documentary structure and traditional narrative, for no apparent reason. As a superhero action film it’s unsurprisingly underwhelming, not just due to the small budget but thanks to a stop-start momentum which never builds any real tension or provide a much of a payoff, and as a comedy it has its moments, thanks mostly to Eddie Griffin, but it ain’t exactly side-splitting.

The Bottom Line…

So what you’re left with is an interesting concept without a particularly gripping execution, a couple of decent CGI set-pieces and a friendship drama sprinkled with a little ghetto comedy which just about keeps you engaged, without leaving a lasting impression or really going anywhere.

Similar films you may like (Home Video)

Hancock (2008)

Will Smith stars as a deadbeat, alcoholic superhero whose attempts to help society cause more problems than they solve, until a chance encounter gives him a chance to change his public image but in the process also unearth a hidden past which threatens those around him.

Directed by Peter Berg and starring Will Smith, Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman among others.

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