I have to admit that I was initially very leery of Hancock. I’ve
always been a life-long fan of the classic superhero myth, which is an
empowerment fantasy that--at its best--encourages the more noble aspects of
humanity. And so I was reluctant to see a movie that looks like it tarnishes the
whole credibility of superheroes, and the inspiration they provide. And, for
about the first half hour of Hancock, that’s pretty much what it does. Will
Smith stars as the title superhero who has the same super strength powers as
Superman, but not the high code of ethics or morality as the Man Of Steel.
Hancock saves lives and stops crime--but only reluctantly, and when he’s not in
a drunken stupor. And he’s very sloppy; damaging property with such reckless
abandon, that the citizens of Los Angeles would really rather he’d just find
someplace else to live.
When Hancock saves the life of Ray, a public relations executive who’s having a
career slump, the grateful Ray tries to pay Hancock back. First, Ray invites
Hancock to dinner with his wife Mary and young son--and then, Ray gets an even
better idea. He’ll use his PR skills to improve Hancock’s image with the rest of
the world. Ray’s master scheme is to have Hancock turn himself in to the
police--all that damage he’s caused has racked up a great deal of summons--in
the hope that crime will increase in his absence, and a desperate public will be
clamoring for his release. Director Peter Berg handles the comedic elements of
Hancock very well--several of these scenes had me laughing out loud--and Will
Smith was the perfect choice for the lead role.
But then, something interesting happens along the way. Hancock regains his
self-respect, and by the time of the bank heist scene, the film Hancock begins
to soar like an eagle. It turns out that Berg and the other filmmakers were
indeed making the classic superhero myth after all--just one that had a very
interesting twist. Hancock is much like The Incredibles, a story that revels in
the superhero myth, while still poking fun at it. There’s also a touch of
Unbreakable in how it recreates a comic book-style plot--complete with a
maniacal villain seeking revenge--all while keeping it firmly grounded in
reality. At least as realistic as two super-powered being battling it out on
the streets of LA can be, anyway.
The special effects are extremely good, realistically creating the damage that
Hancock causes on the streets of LA, and actually helps ground the film in some
ways. Jason Bateman is excellent as Ray, a sincere guy who just wants to see
Hancock look good. And Charlize Theron also holds her own as Mary, Ray’s wife,
who would just as soon as part company with Hancock. The unrated version I saw
contains more harsh language, and--as expected for a summer popcorn film--the
DVD and Blu-Ray are both chock-full with special features. But the real treat
here is the film itself. Much like its main character, Hancock winds up being a
surprising charmer that’s a completely different, and fun, take on the superhero
legend.
--SF
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