Most people have probably heard about this movie. Will Smith plays a drunken superhero by the name of John Hancock. Each time he comes to the rescue he is met with criticism from the very people he is trying to help. He has a very harsh way of dealing with it, which only makes matters worse. The beginning of this movie was great. There was impressive special effects, and Hancock was fun to watch on the screen. He ends up saving a guy who works in the PR business, and offers to help Hancock revamp him image. We learn that Hancock cannot remember anything about his past, which is in part causing his rough way of dealing with things. This PR guy teaches Hancock to come across more humbly, and try to conform more to societal norms. All the while he is creating an identity for himself and becoming more comfortable with his situation. Watching this process was interesting and by itself would have made for a very good movie. Up to this point the movie wasn't taking itself too seriously, it was just a good time. There was no deeper meaning trying to be conveyed, it was just entertaining to watch. However, at some point this movie takes a harsh turn. I am not going to spoil anything if you haven't seen the movie yet, so I am going to be as vague as possible. Hancock encounters a situation where his powers are being weakened. His past is thrown back in his face and we get everything explained to us by another character. This is the part of the movie that I had a lot of trouble with. I felt like it didn't need to be there at all, and completely hijacked the once enjoyable movie I had been watching. I hate it when everything is just given to the viewer like that. Once I had gotten used to this new movie I started to buy into it a little more. By the very end it had redeemed itself a bit. Then it comes back with a 45 second scene that completely ruined it again for me.
I suppose I would recommend watching this movie if you have any interest in it. The first 45 minutes of the movie are definitely worth watching. I really didn't like the story line for the second part of the movie, and hated the ending, but you may react differently to it. Overall it wasn't a bad movie, and I am glad that I checked it out.
Please let me know what you thought about this movie if you have seen it.
2.5 stars. An alright movie even though it really flounders at the end.
-deric
Filed Under: Action