 "Photo: Courtesy of Blue Light")
"Hancock" (Will Smith) is an alcoholic superhero who is despised by the public since his heroic deeds are done without regard for public safety and property. When he saves the life of PR executive Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman), he agrees to allow Ray to change his public image. This results in a prison stint, AA meetings and a costume change.
Hancock starts off strong with action and the comedic timing Smith has come to be known for. After about 30 minutes, however, the large holes in the story become obvious.
"Hancock" is an origin story in the vein of Spider-Man, the X-Men and Iron Man. The success of those movies wasn't because they had great special effects; it was because of the strong story, with the villain as a chief element. A good superhero story needs at least one super-smart, super-evil, super-powered bad guy. Don't expect to see one here.
This movie had the potential to be great, but the loose storyline kills it. Smith and Charlize Theron have great chemistry onscreen, and Bateman adds a subtle comedic flare. "Hancock" is an OK introduction to an intriguing character-, one you can expect to see in the future. It will certainly hold its own on opening weekend but won't be able to stave off the likes of "Wall-E" and "The Dark Knight."
Be the first to comment on this article!