Have you seen Will Smith’s Hancock yet? This superhero movie has drawn mixed reactions and many feel that the second half of the movie doesn’t really cut it.
Hancock stars, in addition to Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman and Eddie Marson. The movie is directed by Peter Berg (who was the director behind The Rundown and The Kingdom), with music by John Powell.

The story of Hancock is a superhero tale with a difference. Will Smith’s character of the same name is a boozy, unkempt superhero, whose exploits are largely unappreciated – possibly because of the way he goes about rescuing people from sticky situations. One of his ‘rescues’, a public relations executive (Jason Bateman) transforms the depressed superhero’s life, when he decides to change Hancock’s image in the eyes of the public. Charlize Theron is Bateman’s character Ray Embrey’s censorious wife, who doesn’t think much of the idea.
The movie starts out well, with Will Smith’s portrayal of the antihero superhero. It begins with Smith as John Hancock waking up on a bench in a park, hung-over and needed for a spot of superheroing. But Hancock messes up everything, causing a huge amount of damage, and pleasing no one! Our hero even ends up in jail, until he is helped by Ray Embrey, the PR executive.

Hancock turns over a new leaf with a vengeance. With Ray’s help, he quits drinking and starts making things better. That’s when Ray’s wife comes in, with a secret of Hancock’s past. Theron is particularly good in this, the second half, of the film.

Although Hancock tries to break away from the usual, satirizing superheroes, it doesn’t really pull it off, emerging as neither a full-blown satire, or as a straight film. A really good job could have been done, but not even the combined talents of Will Smith and Charlize Theron manage to lift the film. A strong premise, an interesting protagonist and plenty of scope for action and excitement have not been used to their fullest potential. In the beginning, one is entertained by the dark humor and some good action, but somehow one feels let down at the end of the movie. It’s a little disappointing that a film which starts out with a good deal of promise slips into mediocrity in the second half. There has to be a lot more to a movie than a series of impressive action shots.

Despite the average quality of this film, Will Smith’s personality and histrionic abilities shine through and his hilarious one liners are as funny as ever. His knack for blending the elements of comedy and drama stand him in good stead here.

Hancock’s personality is possibly the most interesting thing about this film. He is constantly on edge, at war with himself, sardonic and cynical. And misunderstood, too, of course. Although he manages to save the lives and complete the jobs he sets out to do, the damage and chaos he causes are just not worth it! To add to the confusion, John Hancock does not know who he really is; we meet him as a victim of amnesia as the result of a mugger’s attack.

On the plus side, both Theron’s and Smith’s performances are very good, and you’ll certainly find yourself laughing a lot. In conclusion, it’s fair to say that, while the film doesn’t quite live up to its potential, Hancock is fairly good entertainment. It’s not fantastic, but neither is it a disaster!

Hancock is a PG 13 movie – there is a fair amount of violence and swearing. The film is about 85 minutes long.

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