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Hancock (2008)
Director: Peter Berg
Synopsis
A dyspeptic, grudging superhero (Will Smith) gets a chance to rehabilitate his public profile.
Movie review
From Time Out New York
Can someone explain how this high-concept dud nabbed a coveted Fourth of July opening? It seems to have gone straight from pitch to screen: An alcoholic superhero with an attitude problem (Smith) gets an image makeover from a publicist (Bateman) he saves from a train accident. The hero learns to compliment police officers on the “good job” they’ve done and works harder to avoid damaging property while taunting bad guys. Hancock may aspire to say something about a culture so cynical and lawsuit-obsessed that it’s lost the capacity to appreciate a Good Samaritan. But given that the movie itself is a cynical, slapdash moneymaking machine—yes, that’s Akiva Goldsman, screenwriter of Batman & Robin and coproducer of this film, glimpsed in the boardroom scene—it mainly succeeds in trashing the ideal of summer-movie entertainment.
Problems begin in the opening sequence, which shows Hancock drunkenly flying against what appears to be a rear-projected backdrop of downtown L.A. (One might think that Peter Berg, whose last directorial effort, The Kingdom, involved blowing up the Middle East, could at least stage competent action.) Smith and Bateman seem curiously humorless and sedate, and Charlize Theron, as Bateman’s wife, spends much of the movie practicing a single look of consternation. The Pygmalion antics can’t take this sucker to feature length, so it makes a halfhearted attempt to establish a backstory. The window for a sequel is open, if someone wants it, but considering that Hancock barely has 90 minutes of ideas, it’s likely this is one superhero the world will have to do without.
Author: Ben Kenigsberg
Time Out New York Issue 666: July 2 - 9, 2008
User reviews of this film
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- natalie said...
- Posted on Aug 03 2008 23:08 WOW!!!! what an amazing movie! for anyone that wants to hop in the car and drive to the movies but is not sure what to watch...........SEE HANCOCK!!!! smith is hastareical and the end of the movie was shocking and thrilling! if you dont like this movie when you go and see it, i would be amazed that you said that! you'll like it. im sure you will. o<l:-D>
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- MAX said...
- Posted on Jul 16 2008 03:08 HANCOCK's a great watch. I enjoyed it from start till the end. Will Smith did a great job. The story beautifully unfolded towards the end. Charlize also looked cool. Action could have been more exciting, anyway it was great. If there's a sequel made, i'll be keen to watch (ONLY IF WILL'S IN) it. The movie Had all the contents which i like , ACTION, COMEDY, EMOTION, SENSIBLE STORY. A good choice if you want to spend 90 minutes in fun. Was many times better than I AM LEGEND.
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- jim jam said...
- Posted on Jul 11 2008 08:54 wow what a film, so different to normal superhero type films and an unexpected twist in the middle.
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- James White said...
- Posted on Jul 10 2008 15:48 Brilliant and refreshing, with all the super hero films going on (and I love most of them) at the moment I would say clever and well acted, well done!!! Need i say more Hancock.
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- borrisbatanov said...
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Posted on Jul 07 2008 21:25
First half, in which Hancock is a drunken rogue superhero is funny, fun, and original. Effects are good, not great.
Second half (which cannot be divulged, under penalty of death) tanks. It's lame, boring and slow. (Who needs this PC Oprah sensitivity? It's a joy killer.) - Report as inappropriate
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- Luc said...
- Posted on Jul 06 2008 19:41 Hancock as a good movie. It was a entertaining film. It had some funny parts.I think this is one of Will Smiths best movies.
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- unknown said...
- Posted on Jul 03 2008 23:51 unlike ben kenigsburg, i thought that Hancock was a pretty good movie. all it's really missing is a good sequel and a new outfit.
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Cast & crew
Director: Peter Berg
Cast: Will Smith, Jason Bateman, Charlize Theron full cast
Genre(s): Action/Adventure
Rated: PG-13
Duration: 92 mins
US Release: Jul 2 2008
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