Hero Wanted (2008)

Directed by: Brian Smrz | 95 minutes | action, drama, crime | Actors: Cuba Gooding Jr., Ray Liotta, Norman Reedus, Kim Coates, Tommy Flanagan, Jean Smart, Christa Campbell, Steven Kozlowski, Gary Cairns II, Sammi Hanratty, Ben Cross, Todd Jensen, Paul Sampson, Lisa Dunne, Elitsa Rajeva, Atanas Srebrev, Amy Davis

It’s not going well for Liam Case. His wife died in a car accident and he was unable to save her. As a garbage collector, Case still carries this grief with him. But he gets, if prompted by higher hand, a second chance. He saves the life of Marley, a little girl, with whom he develops a good relationship. Recognition as a hero makes Liam look at his life from a brighter side again. But success often blinds, doesn’t it? Liam may even have feelings for another woman, a bank employee, whom he falls in love with instantly. But how to approach her? During his attempted contact, the bank is robbed and the bank employee is shot in the head and ends up in a coma. Liam himself is seriously injured and has to stay in the hospital for some time. Liam’s only thought is revenge and ‘Hero Wanted’ seems to be turning into a (bloody) revenge movie à la ‘Mad Max’ or ‘The Crow’.

The above appears to be correct for a good part. The story follows the standard pattern of the man returning from the brink of death and taking revenge on the bad guys who brought him there. But there’s more. We also get to know Case as a man traumatized by the death of his wife (and her unborn child) and his own impotence in that accident. How to deal with this is a question that the story asks the viewer. Ray Liotta and Todd Jensen in their roles as police inspectors marvel at the amount of tragedy that has gone into Liam’s life. His father died in Vietnam, mother died of coke, wife and child died and ended up in hospital with serious injuries. You would do anything to get your life back on track. But gradually it becomes clear that the story is just a little more complicated than the avenger scenario.

Revealing this would make the film a lot less attractive in one fell swoop. Because despite the fact that ‘Hero Wanted’ is very well put together for a directorial debut, it is not an exceptional film. Gooding Jr. plays well, Liotta is not very uplifting, the finale is spectacular and the story has enough momentum to keep you there. And despite the surprising twist in the story, the film doesn’t quite stick. What is this about? That cannot be said exactly. Perhaps the premise of Case’s quest for redemption is a little too sketchy, or maybe the story leans a little too much on the elaboration of the action scenes surrounding the gang of thugs who helped Case in the hospital. ‘Hero Wanted’ is therefore an interesting film with a surprising story twist and outcome, but this is the only thing that makes it rise above the average of action films.