Hancock

Starring: Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman, Adam Del Rio, Jameson Dixon Jr.

Directed by: Peter Berg

RS: 3of 4 Stars Average User Rating: 3of 4 Stars

2008 Columbia Pictures Action

Would you buy Will Smith as John Hancock, an amnesiac, grab-ass, booze-swilling superhero who flies under the influence and disdains the punk-ass citizens of Los Angeles for thinking he's a superasshole? Trust me, you will. There also exists in L.A. a publicist, Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman), committed to making the world a better place. Now, that's pushing it. Director Peter Berg has a feel for guys who screw up (see Very Bad Things), and he mines the herky-jerky script for every toxic glint of macho posturing. It's all hugely entertaining until the final reel, when the film tries for a tragic dimension it can't handle. Leave that to The Dark Knight. The actors save the day. Bateman doesn't make a false move, and a stellar Charlize Theron springs her own bolts from the blue as Ray's wife. As for Smith, he's on fire. There's nothing like a star shining on his highest beams. You follow him anywhere.

Peter Travers

(Posted: Jul 1, 2008)

Your Turn

Give us your review of
Hancock

Review 1 of 4

2of 4 Stars

After Will Smith's last few outings and the fact that they subsequently landed him a spot at the tippy-top of the A-list totem poll, I walked into this movie with some fairly hefty expectations. So, I only have one question...

What the hell?

I don't remember much after the first fifteen minutes of the movie other than a complete lack of humor, the MOST convoluted storyline/plot twists and maybe the most flimsy stand in for a villain in the history of film. It almost seemed like the production crew, director and big Will himself were confused about whether or not they should make this an action movie, a drama, comedy or biopic of an alcoholic hero having an existential crisis. The answer, I assume, that they came to was to throw all of the above in a pot and wait to see what happens. Unfortunately, Hancock happened. Shelve this effort with all the others of recent years that had immense potential to be mindlessly entertaining and fun but ended up being only mindless and entertaining.

Aug 19, 2008 12:51:52

Review 2 of 4

2of 4 Stars

I had a great idea of what this film was going to be about. But as I was watching this film, my memory came back to me a couple years ago, about the log line for this film when it was first announced. Thus, as the film continued and did not become the film I thought it was, disappointment sat in. Damn preconception! If only that was my only problem with it, but unfortunately, there is more not to like in this super ex-boyfriend flick, mainly because this film itself is trying to be too many things at once.

Hancock starts with an interesting premise, a superhero who just doesn't give a damn. However, when he saves Jason Bateman and gets thanked, you can see there is more behind his character than the @$$hole everyone is making him out to be. Hancock goes to jail and with some difficulty remains there until he is missed by the city of Los Angeles and is called back into action. However this plot seems to be abandoned once we reach midway through the second act, a story that was better served as being its own movie, instead of being the tail end of the one with which this movie begins.

Not that the second plot is bad, it just overpowers the first major plot, weakening it in the process. These screenwriters seem to be all over the place with this film. The screenwriters along with Peter Berg try to make Hancock a bit two-dimensional, like an 80s action movie character, having him get all tied up in a bunch when people call him by a particular insult. But Will Smith is showing more character than the script and the director seems to be allowing him, so you end up with hints of charisma that have no room in a story where the main character is being written as characterless.

Will Smith gives us more than the paltry script asks for, his moments are ebbed by the total derailment of the initial storyline by the second one, thus creating an ongoing battle with the movie versus itself. The moments when Theron and Smith share the screen are great, but they're moments are short lived, as the film keeps jumping from one storyline back to the other, weakening both storylines in the process. This conflict of stories ends up hurting the film in the end, making it less enjoyable had they just focused on one story. Instead the filmmakers must have thought they were being smart by having this plot 'twist' and not realizing it was not a twist, but a completely new plot, making Hancock disjointed and far from super.

Jul 19, 2008 16:28:04

Review 3 of 4

3of 4 Stars

It was enjoyable enough. I went into it the same way I went into Indiana Jones 4. If you just expect an entertaining popcorn summer flick, and you like Will Smith, you will like this film. To comment the last comment though, there is a Black Superhero. His name is Steel, however they made a crappy film starring Shaq LOL. Also there is Damon Wayans in Blankman. As bad as that film is, it will always hold a special place in my heart. That's all folks!

Jul 5, 2008 22:02:31

Review 4 of 4

3of 4 Stars

Though thescript was confusing as all get out, Ithorouhly enjoy Will Smith's films. I liked the special effects and the acting, but the plot was a bit sketchy. Perhaps a few sequels will clear things up for us newcomers, who are just being introduced to the character "Hancock".

One question though.....we finally get a black superhero, but whydid he have to be a drunk with a bad attitude??

Kudos to Will Smith. He's a awesome super hero.

Jul 5, 2008 12:48:01

Previous Next