Hero Mode

Last updated

Hero Mode
Hero Mode.jpg
Directed byA.J. Tesler
Written byJeff Carpenter
Produced byA.J. Tesler, Marcy Carpenter, E.J. Kavounas
Starring
Music by Bill Brown
Distributed by Blue Fox Entertainment
Release date
  • June 4, 2021 (2021-06-04)
Running time
88 minutes [1]

Hero Mode, also known as Mayfield's Game in Australia and the United Kingdom, is a 2021 American independent comedy film [2] directed by A.J. Tesler (in his directorial debut) and written by Jeff Carpenter. Produced by Marcy Carpenter, E.J. Kavounas, and Tesler, [3] [4] the film was released in American theaters on June 4, 2021, distributed by Blue Fox Entertainment. followed by video on demand on June 11, 2021. It received mixed to negative reviews from critics.

Contents

Plot

Financially struggling indie video game business owner Kate asks her son Troy (Chris Carpenter) to develop a video game in time for an upcoming gaming convention in order to save the company. Troy is enthusiastic for the job. But the company's disgruntled coders are not, and in addition Rick, the CEO of a rival company looking to buy out the studio in order to gut it and fire everyone' [4] [5]

Cast

Production

While in production the film went under the title of Mayfield's Game. Filming took place in Los Angeles. [6]

Release

Before its release the film generated criticism for its perceived unrealistic portrayal of video game development. [7] The film was released in American theaters on June 4, 2021, distributed by Blue Fox Entertainment. [8] It was followed by video on demand releases on June 11, 2021. It opened with $11,843, for a total domestic gross of $21,178. [9]

Critical reception

Writing in Variety , critic Nick Schager described the film as a "lively saga about a young coding wizard who’s charged with saving his family’s gaming business [that] doesn’t break novel ground in any respect," but that "its good humor, spry pacing and likable performances should appeal to its pre-high-school target audience." [10] Critic Richard Whittaker wrote in The Austin Chronicle that the film is "a sweet, vaguely moralizing, teen-and-tween-friendly light drama," and that it "is charming if undemanding, and feels at least a little authentic to its milieu." [11] Film critic Roger Moore wrote that the film "isn’t interesting enough to stand on its own, despite manic efforts by Astin and an amusing line here and there." [12]

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 46% based on reviews from 13 critics. [13] Metacritic gave the film a weighted average score of 46 out of 100 based on 5 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". [14]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Goonies</i> 1985 film by Richard Donner

The Goonies is a 1985 American adventure comedy film directed and co-produced by Richard Donner from a screenplay by Chris Columbus based on a story by Steven Spielberg and starring Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Jeff Cohen, Corey Feldman, Kerri Green, Martha Plimpton, and Ke Huy Quan with supporting roles done by John Matuszak, Anne Ramsey, Robert Davi, Joe Pantoliano, and Mary Ellen Trainor. In the film, a group of kids who live in the "Goon Docks" neighborhood of Astoria, Oregon, attempt to save their homes from foreclosure and in doing so they discover an old treasure map that takes them on an adventure to unearth the long-lost fortune of One-Eyed Willy, a legendary 17th-century pirate. During their adventure, they are pursued by a family of criminals who want the treasure for themselves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Astin</span> American actor (born 1971)

Sean Patrick Astin is an American actor. His acting roles include Mikey Walsh in The Goonies (1985), Billy Tepper in Toy Soldiers (1991), Daniel Ruettiger in Rudy (1993), Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001–2003), Doug Whitmore in 50 First Dates (2004), Bill in Click (2006), Lynn McGill in the fifth season of 24 (2006), Oso in Special Agent Oso (2009–2012), Raphael in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012–2017), Bob Newby in the second season of Netflix's Stranger Things (2017), and Ed in No Good Nick (2019).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mira Sorvino</span> American actress (born 1967)

Mira Katherine Sorvino is an American actress. She won the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Woody Allen's Mighty Aphrodite (1995).

<i>Blue in the Face</i> 1995 film by Paul Auster, Wayne Wang

Blue in the Face is a 1995 American comedy film directed by Wayne Wang and Paul Auster. It stars Harvey Keitel leading an ensemble cast, including Giancarlo Esposito, Roseanne Barr, Michael J. Fox, Lily Tomlin, Victor Argo, Mira Sorvino, Lou Reed, Keith David, Jim Jarmusch, Jared Harris, RuPaul, and Madonna.

<i>Against the Ropes</i> 2004 American film

Against the Ropes is a 2004 American sports drama film directed by Charles S. Dutton and starring Meg Ryan and Omar Epps. The story is a fictionalized account of boxing manager Jackie Kallen, the first woman to achieve success in the sport. Kallen has a bit part in the film playing a reporter, and a few lines in the scene where the press interviews the principal characters.

<i>The Replacement Killers</i> 1998 American film

The Replacement Killers is a 1998 American action film directed by Antoine Fuqua in his feature film directorial debut, and written by Ken Sanzel. The film stars Chow Yun-fat, Mira Sorvino, Michael Rooker, and Kenneth Tsang. The film was released in the United States on February 6, 1998. The storyline was conceived from a screenplay written by Ken Sanzel. Veteran action director John Woo co-produced and choreographed the action sequences. The film is set in modern-day Los Angeles and follows an emotionally disillusioned assassin who is forced to settle a violent vendetta for a ruthless crime boss. The film marks the American acting debut for Chow, as his previous film credits included Hong Kong action cinema only.

<i>Mighty Aphrodite</i> 1995 film by Woody Allen

Mighty Aphrodite is a 1995 American comedy film written, directed by, and co-starring Woody Allen, alongside Mira Sorvino, Helena Bonham Carter, Michael Rapaport, and F. Murray Abraham. The screenplay was vaguely inspired by the story of Pygmalion and is about Lenny Weinrib's (Allen) search for his genius adopted son's biological mother, ultimately finding that she is a dim-witted prostitute named Linda Ash (Sorvino).

<i>The Final Season</i> 2007 film by David M. Evans

The Final Season is a 2007 baseball film starring Sean Astin, Rachael Leigh Cook, Tom Arnold, Powers Boothe, Larry Miller, Brett Claywell, Michael Angarano, and Marshall Bell and directed by David Mickey Evans. The film wrapped production in 2006 in Shellsburg, Iowa, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and was released in the United States and Canada on October 12, 2007, by Yari Film Group.

<i>Norma Jean & Marilyn</i> 1996 television film directed by Tim Fywell

Norma Jean & Marilyn is a 1996 American biographical drama television film directed by Tim Fywell, based on the 1985 book Goddess, the Secret Lives of Marilyn Monroe by Anthony Summers. The film stars Ashley Judd as Norma Jean Dougherty and Mira Sorvino as Marilyn Monroe. It premiered on HBO on May 18, 1996.

<i>Two for the Money</i> (2005 film) 2005 film

Two for the Money is a 2005 American sports-drama film directed by D. J. Caruso and starring Al Pacino, Matthew McConaughey, Rene Russo, Armand Assante, and Carly Pope. The film is about the world of sports gambling. It was released on October 7, 2005. This was the first Morgan Creek movie distributed by Universal Pictures since Coupe de Ville in 1990.

<i>The Last Producer</i> 2000 film by Burt Reynolds

The Last Producer is a 2000 American drama film directed by and starring Burt Reynolds. It also featured Sean Astin, Ann-Margret, Lauren Holly, Rod Steiger, and Benjamin Bratt. It was also referred to as The Final Hit in final packaging and promotional materials. It is the final film to be directed by Reynolds before his death in 2018.

<i>Dark Streets</i> (2008 film) 2008 American film

Dark Streets is a 2008 film adaptation of the play by Glenn M. Stewart, directed by Rachel Samuels from a screenplay by Wallace King. The film stars Gabriel Mann, Bijou Phillips, Izabella Miko, Elias Koteas, Michael Fairman and Toledo Diamond. The film's blues score is composed by George Acogny, featuring B.B. King. It premiered at the 2008 CineVegas Film Festival on June 14, winning a Special Jury Prize for "the collaborative craftsmanship in achieving its visual splendor and showmanship" and was given a limited release on December 12. Dark Streets received negative reviews from critics, praising the 1930s aesthetic and musical numbers, but criticized the use of film noir elements propping up an unengaging story.

<i>Sweet Nothing</i> (film) 1995 American film

Sweet Nothing is a 1995 American drama film directed by Gary Winick and starring Michael Imperioli, Mira Sorvino and Paul Calderón. The film was inspired from real-life diary pages found by the filmmakers in a Bronx apartment.

<i>Parallel Lives</i> (film) 1994 American TV series or program

Parallel Lives is a 1994 American made-for-television mystery-drama film written, directed and produced by Linda Yellen which returns some actors and similar patterns of Yellen's previous work, Chantilly Lace.

<i>Field of Lost Shoes</i> 2014 film directed by Sean McNamara

Field of Lost Shoes is a 2014 American war drama film directed by Sean McNamara and written by Dave Kennedy and Thomas Farrell. The film stars Nolan Gould, Lauren Holly, Jason Isaacs, Tom Skerritt, Keith David and David Arquette. It is based on the true story of a group of cadets from the Virginia Military Institute who participated in the Battle of New Market against Union forces during the American Civil War on May 15, 1864. The film's title refers to the large number of soldiers' boots left on the battlefield due to the muddy conditions during the battle. Ten VMI cadets died in the battle.

<i>Do You Believe?</i> (film) 2015 American film

Do You Believe? is a 2015 American Christian drama film directed by Jon Gunn and stars an ensemble cast featuring Ted McGinley, Mira Sorvino, Andrea Logan White, Lee Majors, Alexa PenaVega, Sean Astin, Madison Pettis, Cybill Shepherd, and Brian Bosworth. The film is distributed by Pure Flix, who released it on March 20, 2015.

<i>Condor</i> (TV series) 2018 American thriller television series

Condor is an American thriller television series based on the novel Six Days of the Condor by James Grady and its 1975 film adaptation Three Days of the Condor written by Lorenzo Semple Jr. and David Rayfiel. The series stars Max Irons. The series was created by Todd Katzberg, Jason Smilovic, and Ken Robinson and premiered on June 6, 2018 on Audience. In July 2018, the series had been renewed for a second season, although in January 2020, Audience announced it would be ending operations in its current format. The second season, already filmed at the time of the announcement, premiered on June 9, 2020, on C More and RTÉ2. In December 2020, its existing two seasons were picked up by Epix. They began premiering the second season on November 7, 2021.

Milwaukee, Minnesota is a 2003 American drama film starring Troy Garity, Alison Folland, Bruce Dern and Randy Quaid.

<i>Beneath the Leaves</i> 2019 thriller film directed by Adam Marino

Beneath the Leaves is a 2019 American thriller film co-written and directed by Adam Marino. The film was released on February 8, 2019, on Netflix.

<i>Crime Story</i> (2021 film) 2021 American film

Crime Story is a 2021 American crime drama thriller film written and directed by Adam Lipsius and starring Richard Dreyfuss and Mira Sorvino.

References

  1. ↑ Hero Mode at the British Board of Film Classification – bbfc.co.uk. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  2. ↑ Hassenger, Jesse (June 4, 2021) The incompetence of the video game movie Hero Mode is downright insidious. Polygon . Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  3. ↑ "In New Movie Hero Mode, Sean Astin Searches For "What Real Gamers Really Wanna Play"". TheGamer. 12 May 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  4. 1 2 Billington, Alex (6 May 2021). "Official Trailer for Video Game Comedy 'Hero Mode' with Sean Astin". FirstShowing.net. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  5. ↑ "Hero Mode - Blue Fox Entertainment". www.bluefoxentertainment.com. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  6. ↑ Steves, Ashley (31 July 2019). "L.A. What's Filming: Feature Film 'Mayfield's Game,' Starring Sean Astin + Mira Sorvino". Backstage. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  7. ↑ "Why Are People So Angry At Hero Mode, A Kids Movie About Game Development? An Explainer". TheGamer. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  8. ↑ Schager, Nick (June 4, 2021) 'Hero Mode' Review: A Lively If Corny Teen Video-Game Comedy. Variety . Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  9. ↑ Hero Mode. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  10. ↑ Schager, Nick. "Hero Mode Review". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  11. ↑ Whittaker, Richard. "Hero Mode - Movie Review". The Austin Chronicle. Austin Chronicle Corp. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  12. ↑ Moore, Roger. "Movie Review: Kid programmer goes into "Hero Mode" to save Mom's Video Game Company". Movie Nation. Roger Moore. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  13. ↑ Hero Mode at Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  14. ↑ Hero Mode at Metacritic. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.