Hancock (C+ or 2.5/4 stars)
A public relations man named Ray (Jason Bateman) teaches an ill-natured superhero (Will Smith) to tame his formidable powers in 'Hancock' (directed by Peter Berg). John Hancock fights crime, alright. But as an alcoholic loner (whom the public hates due to his propensity to create more destruction than accomplish much good), it's difficult for him to become a welcomed beacon of justice. Ray attempts to reshape Hancock's approach to life. But the superhero gets much more than he bargained for. If it weren't for the crazy, sloppy last 25 min. of the film, I'd be giving this mayhem-filled blockbuster a solid thumbs up.
Hancock is a miserable & reluctant superhero. When he isn't saving the people of L.A. (just because he knows he can), he's drinking liquor or minding his own business; having no friends. He's depressed, full of self-doubt, but he doesn't quite know why. Perhaps he's this way because he gets nothing positive out of saving lives. Showing no regard for damaging skyscrapers, derailing trains, demolishing roads, cars, houses, and the like ... Hancock is usually jeered, not cheered for doing his good deeds. Things start to look up for him one day (though he doesn't initially realize it) when he saves the life of P.R. executive, Ray Embrey. Ray owes his life to Hancock & makes his own life-affirming mission to change the superhero's image for good.
The drawback to this scenario, however, is that Hancock will have to do a stint in prison & rehab (the District Attorney's request). Told to do a 'good job' in jail, Hancock would be set free, and relegated to quit drinking, shave his face, & wear an appropriate superhero costume. Hancock is willing to go along with all this, but he's still depressed. Meanwhile, Ray's wife, Mary (Charlize Theron) not only believes Hancock can't be fixed, but is exchanging questionable glances with the man in question. Sure, she doesn't want her husband or stepson (Jae Head) to get hurt ... but what's her seeming connection with Hancock? Is there one? Come on, you don't cast a mega star like Charlize Theron and expect her to be a measly supporting character; there's more to her than meets the eye.
'Hancock' has 2 distinct parts to it. The 1st hour introduces us to the characters, gives us some cool action & offers some great laughs. I love that Hancock's existence revolves around the word 'asshole'. He thinks everyone is one, & they think it of him. The visual effects are effective in most parts; but sometimes they go overboard. Jason Bateman is stellar as the witty PR man. Charlize is gorgeous, and brings nuance to what is a 2-dimensional character. And Will Smith is as great as ever. I didn't love Hancock (as a movie), but Will Smith is always interesting, entertaining, & brings up the level of anything he's in. It's necessary for a superhero to have that 'something' which makes them vulnerable. Luckily, Hancock has this, as well.
However, like a train accident earlier in the proceedings, this movie goes off the rails a bit near the end. Some late-breaking exposition concerning Hancock's origin is thrown at us. And not only does some frustratingly corny dialogue get spoken, but the screenplay itself gets both muddled & disjointed. Things go from intriguing ... to bizarre ... to 'alarmingly' bad when an insignificant villain shows up. Nothing in the 1st hour is amazing, but the film would have been much better with a better paced, more thought-out conclusion. Out-of-left-field twists are being hurled at us at breakneck speed. And we're forced to come up with explanations for things; things that needed more coherence & more time for development. That said, I still had a decent night out at the movies. As a one-time movie excursion, 'Hancock' is fun and offers plenty of diverting scenes. But it's not a movie one thinks of to buy & watch repeatedly.
Hancock is a miserable & reluctant superhero. When he isn't saving the people of L.A. (just because he knows he can), he's drinking liquor or minding his own business; having no friends. He's depressed, full of self-doubt, but he doesn't quite know why. Perhaps he's this way because he gets nothing positive out of saving lives. Showing no regard for damaging skyscrapers, derailing trains, demolishing roads, cars, houses, and the like ... Hancock is usually jeered, not cheered for doing his good deeds. Things start to look up for him one day (though he doesn't initially realize it) when he saves the life of P.R. executive, Ray Embrey. Ray owes his life to Hancock & makes his own life-affirming mission to change the superhero's image for good.
The drawback to this scenario, however, is that Hancock will have to do a stint in prison & rehab (the District Attorney's request). Told to do a 'good job' in jail, Hancock would be set free, and relegated to quit drinking, shave his face, & wear an appropriate superhero costume. Hancock is willing to go along with all this, but he's still depressed. Meanwhile, Ray's wife, Mary (Charlize Theron) not only believes Hancock can't be fixed, but is exchanging questionable glances with the man in question. Sure, she doesn't want her husband or stepson (Jae Head) to get hurt ... but what's her seeming connection with Hancock? Is there one? Come on, you don't cast a mega star like Charlize Theron and expect her to be a measly supporting character; there's more to her than meets the eye.
'Hancock' has 2 distinct parts to it. The 1st hour introduces us to the characters, gives us some cool action & offers some great laughs. I love that Hancock's existence revolves around the word 'asshole'. He thinks everyone is one, & they think it of him. The visual effects are effective in most parts; but sometimes they go overboard. Jason Bateman is stellar as the witty PR man. Charlize is gorgeous, and brings nuance to what is a 2-dimensional character. And Will Smith is as great as ever. I didn't love Hancock (as a movie), but Will Smith is always interesting, entertaining, & brings up the level of anything he's in. It's necessary for a superhero to have that 'something' which makes them vulnerable. Luckily, Hancock has this, as well.
However, like a train accident earlier in the proceedings, this movie goes off the rails a bit near the end. Some late-breaking exposition concerning Hancock's origin is thrown at us. And not only does some frustratingly corny dialogue get spoken, but the screenplay itself gets both muddled & disjointed. Things go from intriguing ... to bizarre ... to 'alarmingly' bad when an insignificant villain shows up. Nothing in the 1st hour is amazing, but the film would have been much better with a better paced, more thought-out conclusion. Out-of-left-field twists are being hurled at us at breakneck speed. And we're forced to come up with explanations for things; things that needed more coherence & more time for development. That said, I still had a decent night out at the movies. As a one-time movie excursion, 'Hancock' is fun and offers plenty of diverting scenes. But it's not a movie one thinks of to buy & watch repeatedly.