In this small, but satisfying film, Peter Riegert plays “Mac” McIntire, an ambitious, successful oil company executive. Mac is sent to Scotland to negotiate the purchase of an entire fishing village, to be turned into an oil refinery. His off-kilter boss, Mr. Happer (Burt Lancaster), an amateur astronomer, gives him a secondary assignment, which is to “watch the northern skies” for a comet that Happer can name after himself.
With these marching papers, Mac descends on the village of Ferness, accompanied by Danny Oldsen (Peter Capaldi), a member of the company's U.K. team. Mac and Danny explore the town and beach, meeting a variety of colorful, small-town types. Danny falls in love, while Mac begins to wonder if there is something more to life than his Porsche, his corner office, and his swell, Houston apartment.
“Local Hero” is one of those little movies that knows exactly what it is about. Produced by David Puttnam (“Chariots of Fire”), the film is written and directed by a guy named Bill Forsyth. Forsyth is not particularly famous, but he really gets the tone right in this wistful, wryly funny, character-driven film. “Local Hero” is a forgotten gem from back when they made movies for grown-ups, and it is well worth a watch.
4 stars out of 5
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