stevechristian

Expert Rating:

6

Reviewed by Steve Christian

Will Smith
Charlize Theron
Jason Bateman
Directed by Peter Berg

What have we here? The Anti-hero? The superhero who does NOT want to be a superhero? What an interesting twist. Perhaps we have seen the previews for television. There is the scene where he hurls a huge whale out into the ocean, only to topple a large sailing vessel. It certainly caught my eyes, and perhaps yours.

This take on a superhero, by director Peter Berg, is a fresh idea. Previously Berg’s claim to fame has been for numerous episodes of Chicago Hope, one film in which he tried acting, as Joey Randone in “Cop Land” with Sylvester Stallone. As well as a recent effort, “Collateral”, starring with both Tom Cruise and Oscar winner Jamie Foxx in a small part as actor Richard. Not much, really. At least as far as Directing.

Yet this new film with Will Smith is at the least a fresh look at the superhero genre’. Reluctant superhero John Hancock is very unhappy. He is depressed and drinks heavily. When you see all the things he can do, and so effortlessly, it is a wonder that even alcohol can tame him.

The calls come in. The public needs his help to “save the day”. He is weary. Eventually he will save the day, but not the way everyone expects. Time after time always leaves the same result- a lot of disgruntled people, and lot of lawsuits against him for damages. Charges that we don’t really think about when a Superhero saves the day. Yet Hancock doesn’t seem to care. Until he meets Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman). Embrey specializes in public relations, and he thinks he can revive Hancock’s image and standing amongst the public.

Interestingly his wife (Charlize Theron) does not believe Hancock can be saved, but she has her own issues for that. In the end it is a character study as to what a “superhero” must go through as a superhero. In that way it is intriguing, yet ultimately disappointing, in that director Berg tries to do too much with the Theron role and its importance in Hancock’s life. If they had just stuck with the crusty superhero storyline it would have been more gratifying for me.

I will say that Smith does a great job as the disgruntled Superman type. He is fantastic. I wish I could see him try for an Oscar in a great role because he can do it. I well remember him, as a youth, in “Six Degrees of Separation”, and even then we could all see. This was potentially a serious actor. Yet now, with this, as with others, he seems to be going for action films, and yes the money.