By Laurence Washington
Will Smith stars as Hancock, a hard-living, sarcastic, drunken superhero who has fallen out of favor with the public due his misfiring feats of daring do. Hancock looks and lives like a street person.
However, he flies through the city capturing criminals, and causes millions of dollars in damages while performing his civic duties. Hancock’s latest feat: While foiling a bank robbery, he cost the city of Los Angeles $9 million in damages. Feeling enough is enough, there’s a public outcry for Hancock to move to another city. And the police issue a warrant for the superhero’s arrest. But Hancock doesn’t care what the public thinks, until he saves the life of Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman) a public relations executive. Embrey offers his services to Hancock to change his image likable costume superhero and turn the public jeers to cheers.
In a summer overrun with comic book superheroes, “Hancock” has an original fresh premise. However, it’s “Hancock’s” original premise that’s also its downfall, because the unhappy, reluctant superhero shtick works the first hour then the scriptwriters run out of original idea.
So the story slows down to explain how Hancock got his superpowers, followed by third act that suddenly becomes serious, causing the film to become an uneven comedy drama. Admittedly there are plenty of laughs – most of which unfortunately have been seen in the film’s numerous trailers. But even Will Smith, who is likable in the role, can’t save the once unique premise that quickly turns into a flat screenplay. Offering a word of caution, like “Iron Man” and “The Incredible Hulk,” this summer stay through the end credits for a surprise.
