Will Smith in Peter Berg's Hancock
Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman and Smith Score Summer Blockbuster
Peter Berg's super-hero flick Hancock had summer blockbuster written all over it before the first trailer was released. With a impressive ensemble of cast members including Oscar-winner Charlize Theron and Oscar-nominee and Blockbuster King Will Smith on board, this seemed like a can't-miss project, and indeed it is. Smith has turned into the biggest actor on the planet over the past several years, attracting huge summer audiences with films such as: Independence Day, Men in Black, Bad Boys 2, and I,Robot.
In addition, Smith has turned into quite the dramatic leading man with challenging character roles in Aliand The Pursuit of Happiness, both in which his performances were praised by critics and audiences alike. Next, Actor turned director Peter Berg has directed several hits in the past few years including TheKingdom, Friday Night Lights, and The Rundown.
This project, written by Vincent Ngo has been passed around Hollywood since 1996, before being picked up by Columbia Pictures. This movie is unique in a genre that is all too often the same over-hyped, over-sensationalized movie that relies too heavily on special effects, rather than great actors, and a solid plot. This film is unlike its competitors based simply on its story line. An alcoholic, screw-up of a super-hero must change his style to gain the support and respect of the people who crave his help. He is not the perfect being, he is just a man with issues, like everyone else.
With the help of Public Relations Expert Jason Bateman, Hancock attempts to repair his shattered image and save his city. Hancock reluctantly makes a public apology, and voluntarily goes to prison, until the people realize they need the help of their notorious hero. The movie contains a crucial plot-twist, not suggested in the trailers, that sends the film in another direction. This twist takes the film to another level and actually turns it into somewhat of a drama, rather than a typical super-hero movie. The acting is tremendous and there are just enough ooh and ahh special effect moments to keep the film fun, but not engulf the story.
Additionally, this film contains several comedic elements, which are missing from some of the recent super-hero movies. The only legitimate complaint is that the studio didn't man-up and keep the film 'R' rated. Probably afraid of scoring a flop at the box-office with the restricted rating, the studio decided to cut some scenes to give the film a more "family-friendly" standing. Of the multitude of high-dollar fantasy films released so far this summer, this is certainly the one everyone should pay to see in theaters.
