Movie Reviews for "Hancock" Starring Will Smith, Charlize Theron

Based on the "Hancock" trailers, I expected to see an action movie about a crass, homeless superhero who turns his life around with the help of a man to become the hero he was destined to be.

In many ways I was correct, but the movie’s twist was the bulk of the story, adding depth to an otherwise comedic, action film.

Hancock (Will Smith) was a disrespectful jerk who drank rail dark liquor yet had superhuman strength and the ability to fly. While fighting crime, Hancock typically destroyed public property and due to his lack of class, he pissed off thousands of Los Angeles natives.

Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman) was a PR agent who unsuccessfully promoted his idea to Fortune 500 companies to give away free items to charity. After leaving a disappointing meeting, Ray was stuck on a train track. Hancock saved his life, but yet again, destroyed property.

Grateful for his Hancock’s heroics, Ray invites Hancock to his house to eat dinner with his wife Mary (Charlize Theron) and his son Aaron (Jae Head). From the moment Hancock walks in the house, Mary gives him this weird look and thus begins the true story within the film.

Through Mary, Hancock begins to learn more about his powers and who he is, because (wait for it), Mary herself is a superhero as well, but wants to keep it from her husband. Apparently, Mary and Hancock are eternal beings who were once married, but once they are together, their powers begin to diminish. In effect, their love is their downfall and it makes them mortal.

Their enemies come after them when they are together, knowing that their powers have been decreased. The last time Hancock was attacked, he lost his memory and forgot who Mary was. Knowing that being together would affect their powers, Mary decides to get married and leave Hancock alone.

That is until that fateful day when Hancock is invited to dinner.

The symbiotic relationship between Hancock and Mary is the tale of the movie, not his crassness nor his CGI-enhanced abilities. Their attraction and past love is the story of truly loving someone enough to let them go and how to love from afar for the betterment of each other.

Altogether, the movie is interesting throughout, especially seeing Hancock’s evolution into a true-blue superhero who is embraced by his city. The action scenes are top-notch and his powers seem limitless, pondering the question if Hancock is the most powerful superhero in movie history.

However, the true tale of the movie (Hancock and Mary’s bond) gives the film the substance that makes it a true piece of cinema and not just an action flick. The previews did the best job of masking what the movie was truly about, bringing moviegoers in to see a simple comedic action film and leaving with a complete jaw-dropping surprise.

Overall, Hancock was a great film, adding to Will Smith’s July, take-over-the-world themes with “Independence Day”, “I-Robot”, “I Am Legend” and both “Men in Black” films. However, this is one of the best. This is a must-see film for the entire family.

With that said, the things I did not like about the film was Ray’s bad PR campaign. It seemed stupid, corny and doomed to fail.