Hancock
My first exposure to the idea of this movie, I thought, who cares, don’t wanna see it. Another freaking superhero movie, only this time it’s not based on anything famous and it stars Will Smith so they figure our love for him will save them from having to actually write a script (see: Men in Black series). Then the previews revealed that he is an unwilling, unlikable super-being, and I grew more interested. Finally, leaving the theatre, I concluded: very enjoyable. I am conscious that I gave this movie the same rating as Wall-E, but in a way I did not. Wall-E was punished by the Matinee with Snacks rating, whereas this film was rewarded by it. Let me elaborate. While Wall-E disappointed me, on a certain level, due to its relatively unfocused story, Hancock surprised me with being more evolved than I had expected. Hence the identical rating.
Warning: If you have the slightest aversion to the word “a**hole,” then this movie is not for you. Hancock is indeed a hard as nails, powerhouse of a sphincter, but the characters remind us all the time that he really is specifically that donkey orifice. (Isn’t censorship great?) Is Hancock a more complicated cat than we are led to believe? Well, they did cast Will Smith in the role. Hancock’s life is about to change, but what’s interesting is how and why it changes.
Jason Bateman comes into his life, as well as his wife Charlize Theron and his Hancock-worshipping son. (Arrested Development fans can cheer at the consummation of lie-down-kisses between Michael and Rita at last.) Bateman is a perfect foil for the jackholery of Hancock – he’s wound up and flappable, trying very hard to be cool and unflappable. Bateman is dry and sincere and sarcastic and funny. He helps the audience change our feelings about Hancock as much as Hancock himself does.
Good stories are about relationships and Smith’s relationship with himself is in as much turmoil as that with his environment, and it’s utterly fantastic to see a movie like this be more character-driven than effects-driven. Yes, Hancock can fly and throw cars around, and the effects portraying that are predictably excellent and convincing. We have a totally gratuitous early sequence to showcase his powers and attitude, but it serves a purpose. The movie, praise the heavens, is smart enough to use the CGI madness in service to the story, rather than just ending and scene or conflict with a big effecty showdown. (I’m looking at you, Transformers!) It’s also better than Spider-Man because our hero isn’t a whiny bitch and the support characters are just as important as the lead.
Hancock is not a kid’s movie (that prison fight notwithstanding), but kids will love it anyway when they watch it on cable when the parents are out. Hancock is cool, aloof, indestructible, special – and very alone, angry, lost, and unsure. July 4 weekend has long belonged to Mr. Smith but this year we can get the extra bonus of a little extra story with our free air-conditioning.
MPAA Rating PG-13
Release date 7/2/08
Time in minutes 92
Director Peter Berg
Studio Columbia Pictures
