"Heroes" is an overlooked, appealing little combination of drama and comedy that deserves to be better known. It details the plight of one Vietnam vet, Jack Dunne (Henry Winkler) as he travels cross country to make his dream of starting a worm farm (!) come true. Among the assorted scrapes in which he finds himself, he end up hopelessly bound to a woman doing her own running, Carol Bell (Sally Field). Nicely written (by James Carabatsos) and directed (by Jeremy Paul Kagan), this is a movie that's just as much about its journey as its destination. It has an episodic nature, but the episodes are so compelling and entertaining that they really pull you in. Among other things, Jack escapes from a V.A. hospital, greatly annoys a bus driver (Val Avery), tangles with thieving thugs in a remote bar / motel, meets up with a reckless, macho old Army buddy, Ken Boyd, played with easygoing charm by Harrison Ford, and races Ken's car when Ken won't do it. Even at an hour and 53 minutes, this time almost flies by, with the actors all making the most out of the material. Wonderful music by Jack Nitzsche and Richard Hazard just adds to the enjoyment, as well as slick cinematography by Frank Stanley. The stars couldn't be better: Winkler shows that there was always much more to him than just Arthur Fonzarelli, and Field is at her most adorable (and sexiest). There are also fine contributions from such players as Olivia Cole (in her first film), Hector Elias, Dennis Burkley, Tony Burton, Michael Cavanaugh, John P. Finnegan, and Betty McGuire. There are even uncredited cameos for John Cassavetes and Stuart Margolin. By the time this has reached its finale, one can't help but feel sorry for the Jack character and be rooting for him to find the peace he desperately needs. Incidentally, it's amusing to note how Field is playing a character running from marriage, when she was doing something similar in "Smokey and the Bandit" from the same year. Eight out of 10.
Review of Heroes
