Seen on: July 2, 2008

The players: Director: Peter Berg, Writers: Vince Gilligan, Vincent Ngo, Cast: Will Smith, Jason Bateman, Eddie Marsan and Charlize Theron

Facts of interest: The film was formely known as "Tonight, He Comes."

The plot: A drunken superhero meets an optimistic PR guy who offers to help him repair his damaged image in the community.

Our thoughts: Much like the people in “Hancock” who deserve a better hero, we deserve a better movie. Peter Berg’s big-budget Will Smith vehicle kicks off with a promising concept, but a sudden twist and a clear lack of new ideas in the script eventually turn the movie into a nearly indescribable mess. It’s unfortunate really, because with a little more effort from the screenwriting department, the film could have turned out a lot better.

If you’ve seen the trailer for the film over the past weeks, you already know Hancock (Smith) is not your average superhero. Although he’s got good intentions, the man doesn’t care about his appearance and has a serious drinking problem, which pretty much explains why he can’t save people’s lives or battle crime without leaving behind a giant mess. Hancock doesn’t mind helping those in danger, but at the end of the day, he’s done more damage than good.

One day Hancock runs into Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman), a PR guy who quickly figures out the superhero’s problem and offers to help him fix his image. Although his wife Mary (Charlize Theron) doesn’t like the idea too much, Ray spends most of the following weeks teaching Hancock how to be a good sport and win back the recognition from the enraged community. And yes, that includes a trip to the local jail.

The film’s original concept of a drunken superhero with a damaged reputation works great for the first 45 minutes or so, during which the plot follows Hancock as he struggles to recognize his problems and work on his unacceptable behavior in public. By teaching him how important it is to get his act together and give the people of Los Angeles the hero they deserve, Ray helps him make a difference and discover who he really is. All in all, the beginning of the film is certainly an innovative take on heroism, introducing us to characters we usually don’t see in these kinds of movies. 

Most of the action seen in the previews comes into play during this first half as well, resulting in a fairly enjoyable start for a flick I had already written off before I walked into the screening. You clearly won’t seen anything you haven’t seen yet in, let’s say, a Michael Bay film, but the fast pace of the action sequences give the plot a refreshing boost. Even Will Smith surprised me at this point in the film, as he injects his character with energy and even quite a bit of humor.

Then all of a sudden, the plot takes a drastic turn, and “Hancock” quickly changes into an incredible mess. I’m not going to reveal what happens, but what I can say is that screenwriters Vincent Ngo and Vince Gilligan completely abandon the story they worked on during the first half, introducing instead a bunch of incoherent story lines that divert from the film’s imaginative concept and pretty much mess up everything that was so engrossing about the first 45 minutes.

Peter Berg (“The Kingdom”) is undoubtedly a dab hand at directing captivating action scenes and giving his films an interesting visual style, but in “Hancock,” he’s definitely overusing his shaky camera technique. I also had some serious problems with some of the film’s CGI, especially in the wide shots of Smith flying across downtown Los Angeles. Most of the effects just look unfinished and are unable to compete with some of the eye candy we’ve seen in other blockbusters this summer.

As I mentioned before, Smith delivers a refreshing performance as Hancock as long as the story works. However, once the film’s ridiculous twists pop up and ruin everything he worked hard enough for in the beginning, he clearly struggles to keep his character alive. The same pretty much goes for Bateman and Theron, who are very enjoyable to follow until the movie falls apart. With absolutely nothing to work with, neither of them can save the film from growing into a disaster.

Freaky quote: "What, you want a cookie?” – Will Smith

The final word: And that’s what you get for thinking that a movie about a drunken superhero is such a genuine idea. Sure, the beginning delivers some mild entertainment, but it’s not strong enough to leave a long-lasting impression. Unless you’re completely in love with every single movie Smith has done over the years, chances are you’ll forget about “Hancock” the minute you leave the theater. Nonetheless, the movie will certainly score yet another solid box office run for its prominent lead actor, who’s also known as the king of the July 4 weekend. Maybe it’s time to dethrone him. 

Article by Franck Tabouring