Wanna see Henry Winkler beat up a barroom full of bikers without the use of his magical leather jacket? In HEROES he plays a goofy, manic, troubled Vietnam Vet who, after escaping from a mental institution in New York, travels across country, energized by bizarre plans to build a worm farm in Eureka, California, with the (hopeful) help of his fellow vets...Along the way, via bus, while pestering put-upon driver Val Avery, Winkler's Jack Dunne meets lonely, single, soon-to-be-wed Sally Field as Carol (the same year she'd be a reluctant fiance in SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT), and the first of his "Nam " cronies played by soon-to-be-famous Harrison Ford, the same year he'd help The Rebel Alliance rescue a princess, here basically rehashing his AMERICAN GRAFFITI "Bob Falfa" character: but with issues, and zero backbone. Despite time being spent (with the trio) on his family's rural, white trash farm, and getting to see Ford shoot a machine gun, down Budweisers and drive a hot rod - it all merely serves as a catapult for the second half, when the inevitable romantic element between Henry and Sally sets in. Alas, Ford's Ken "Ace of Diamonds" Boyd could've been played by anyone. And the fact he's bullied and is afraid to compete on the race track, perhaps another actor would have fit better: for legacy's sake... Who knew that that incredible science-fiction fantasy he'd appear in would take off, and wimpy roles like this would suit him no longer... but it's Henry's vehicle anyway...As he weaves in and out of craziness whenever the story runs out of stream, which is most of the way through, his mental illness serves as a platform to not only ham it up with what feels like improv to bust up the surrounding cast and crew, but to charm Field, whose rudimentary annoyance eventually turns to love: Not sure, though, if the audience feels the same way...His sometimes grating bouts with innocently optimistic lunacy is often much too "cute" to be taken seriously, and Winkler as a veteran of any war is extremely difficult to believe. But most of any actor's genuine strength are in the intensity of their eyes, and when called for, he wields a pretty nasty glare. So for road movie fluff you could do much worse. And word has it that HEROES was much better when the Kansas anthem "Carry On My Wayward Son" closed the curtain. Well it is true that in any picture, one song can make a difference. (cultfilmfreaks.com)

ONCE AGAIN WE find ourselves in the middle of a Vietnam War veteran story. Hollywood was brutally nasty in its overall treatment of and characterization of the men who served honorably in this unpopular conflict.BUT IT IS our happy duty to report that in the case of today's reviewed work, HEROES (David Foster Prod./Universal Pictures, 1977)), it is a notable exception.OUR STORYOPENS up with our main character, Jack Dunne, being an inmate in a mental hospital. We learn that he is a former soldier; whose condition was brought about due to his experiences in combat in "Nam". We also are entertained and amused by his resourcefulness in managing to pull off an escape from the institution in a manner that would do famous Bank Robber, Willie "the Actor" Sutton proud! FOLLOWING THAT, WHAT transpires is a sort of cross country odyssey, as we follow Jack as he heads toward an appointment with some good friend from his outfit in the Army. As the journey progresses, we learn more and more about his past experiences and little about his present predicament.WE ALSO SEE him meet and become close to one Carol Bell (Sally Field)with whom he learns to depend. The two do appear to have fallen in a case seriously pointing toward lifetime commitment.THE MAIN THEME of the movie, which gives the story power and propels it along in a post haste fashion is a man's dream of a future; seeking to find a better life for himself and his loved ones.IT IS A UNIVERSALLY truism and one that is an increasingly doubtful dream in a rapidly changing America.

I was probably the only one of my friends who actually saw this movie when I was a kid. It was touching and well acted. It touched on something that wasn't being talked about a lot in the 1970's, which was the post traumatic shock that veterans were experiencing. Though some people saw the movie as simplistic or even quirky, I thought it was a very compassionate look at the hopelessness that veterans can feel. Some veterans are very disenfranchised when being expected to fit back into society after returning home from war. I found both Henry Winkler and Sally Field's performances to be solid, raw and engaging. It leaves the viewer wanting to understand the characters. Henry Winkler showed a lot more range in this movie than he ever did on his televisions roles. It was also entertaining to see Harrison Ford in a supportive role. I like to watch this movie every couple of years.

I'm glad I read the comments about the the song being different. I raved about the movie, including the wonderful end song, but when I bought the video tape, I was disappointed! I thought maybe I'd gone crazy. Maybe I have a little bit, as I'd thought it was "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas. Any idea why the theater played a different song than the VHS tape? Were theater owners given a choice? Because of this movie, Henry Winkler became one of my favorite actors. I'd always liked Sally Field. I was also attracted to Harrison Ford, my first sighting of him in any movie. I didn't realize until I saw Heroes again, 23 years later, that he was Han Solo! I cry every time I watch the ending. It seemed to bring home to me the agony of the Vietnam War. I was sheltered from the war as I was so young. My parents didn't want to talk about it, and it just made me more curious. Years later, I worked with a woman who'd lost "the love of her life" in Vietnam. She couldn't talk without crying, the pain was still so fresh. Such a tragic time.