by Thomas Ferguson

Look! In the sky…it’s a bird, it’s a plane, no… it’s a bummed out brother named Hancock and he is blowing up in the city of angels…literally!

Mega-star Will Smith plays Hancock, an unlikely superhero who is loathed by the very city he tries to protect. He has a nasty attitude and it is thrown back at him because he has no regard for the law or property values.

Ray Embry (Jason Bateman), a down and out marketing representative, is rescued by Hancock and believes he can return the favor by changing Los Angeles’ opinion of this moody hero. He gives Hancock an attitude adjustment and a physical makeover. Hancock is tired of being alone and disrespected so he agrees to do what is needed to change his image.

Ray’s wife Mary (Charlize Theron) applauds her husband’s good intentions, but believes Hancock is a useless waste of power and a deplorable human being…just like the rest of the city.

A changed man, Hancock now has the unique opportunity to change things — ultimately, getting the chance to gain the respect of the city and to justify his existence as a superhero.

Hancock is one of those movies that you rather love or you hate. I happen to fall on the love side, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t have problems with it. First off, the movie was a bit on the predictable side. I say this because a major plot point in the movie (I won’t give it away) I actually picked up on while watching the trailer weeks ago. I was totally right! Good for me…not so good for the filmmakers.

This over-the-top twist eventually made sense, but it took awhile to grow on me. That being said, I found this movie highly entertaining. Will Smith is definitely on top of his game here. He was incredibly hilarious as the foul-mouthed superhero. Charlize Theron really impressed me. Not a huge fan of hers, but wow did she pull off an impressive and sexy performance. Jason Bateman has been really stepping up to the plate over the past few years. He really shines in this role as well.

Another thing I must warn you about, midway through there is a complete change in tone. It went from a fish –out –of water comedy to a heart-pounding drama...unexpected and intense.

I felt the ending was a bit fluffy, but it didn’t detract from the overall effectiveness of the movie. I believe Hancock is a much better movie than Smith’s drab I Am Legend and believe it will do quite well over the Independence Day weekend. As we all know, Will Smith is known for opening huge movies during that busy time.

Lastly, stay for the credits. There is a funny cameo by Mike Epps that is worth a look. It’s no Ironman or Incredible Hulk, but Hancock is fun and gives a unique spin on the superhero genre.