HANCOCK

Movie Review #4: HANCOCK
(DVD release date: 11/25/08)

Directed by Peter Berg, Rated PG-13, 1 hr., 32 minutes
Genre: Action/Sci-fi
Reviewer Rating: D


I really don't understand the production of this movie. It seems that there are two movies in this one. Did Will Smith sit down with his agent and say, "Hey, I'm fresh off of I Am Legend (2007) and The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), and I'd really like to make a film with elements of both," and the agent was like "well, I've got this superhero/romance??? film which has some awkward moments (actually it has a lot of them) that you may be interested in..."

This is a strange movie. It's supposed to feature Will Smith as a superhero. It does seem to do that. The first hour leads you to believe that this is what the movie is all about. And then there is an one hundred and eighty degree turnaround where all of a sudden there is a romance with Charlize Theron who also has superpowers? But I'm not really spoiling anything here because it states this fact on the back of the rental case. (That's why I don't feel the need to say "SPOILER ALERT!") And it's really awkward in the movie, and you'll know why if you watch this.

I felt the need to fast-forward the last half and remain ignorant of the remaining plot. Because the movie was pretty much over after the first part, which was mildly entertaining. Hancock, the main character played by Will Smith, is wasted for most of the first twenty minutes and that's distressingly amusing. He can fly, has super strength and bullets bounce off of him like Superman. So, the first attempt at an African-American Superman character (please correct me if I'm wrong, because I'd really like to be wrong) is an alcoholic from the first minutes of the film. That's really... nice.

This film is watchable if you can see it for free, which is what I was able to do. I wouldn't pay more than $3 for it, though. And maybe not even that. Oh, and it is genuinely PG-13, so anyone under that age (thirteen) probably shouldn't watch it. I think it may kill developing brain cells. But that's just my opinion.

And as for Will Smith? I really hope Seven Pounds (2008) is better. I really do like Will Smith. Charlize Theron, who won an Oscar for Monster (2003) should have simply known better. At least this is not as bad as Catwoman (2004). It might be up there with Uma Thurman's performance in My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006).