Just the right dose of daffy, Local Hero follows an American oil executive (Peter Riegert) sent to buy an entire village on the Scottish coast so that his bosses can build a refinery. The catch? Led by the local innkeeper/lawyer (Dennis Lawson), the villagers are only feigning reluctance, in order to drive up the price. Despite the smart twist, there’s still plenty of regional humor about the quaintness of this quieter life, as well as a touch of cliche in the way the place wins over not only the executive, but also the oil CEO (Burt Lancaster) when he visits. Yet if Local Hero is ultimately less complicated than its reputation might suggest, writer-director Bill Forsyth navigates the tale with a warmth and wry humor that wins you over, while the seaside vistas—captured by cinematographer Chris Menges—are ridiculously beautiful. “You can’t eat the scenery,” a character observes at one point. Local Hero comes close.
(9/1/2025)
