With Hancock set to release soon I decided to bump up this review I did when I saw it at the screening over a month ago. I hope you enjoy.
Though the movie is still in post-production, I was fortunate enough to attend a screening for “Hancock” at The Bridge in Los Angeles. “Hancock” is the story of a not-so-super hero who teams up with a PR professional (Jason Bateman) to drop his image of a lazy alcoholic, who has regard for human life but not for public property, and become a hero that people can respect. The film provides comedy, drama and action to create an entertaining and unique experience that moviegoers may either enjoy or be turned off from.
When we are first introduced to Hancock (Will Smith), we see him sitting on the top of the U.S. Bank building in Downtown Los Angeles surrounded by empty bottles of alcohol. His inebriation causes him to plummet off the roof of the skyscraper and hit the ground leaving a meteor sized crater in the graveled streets of L.A. We then see him pick himself up without a scratch and stumble away. This is Hancock.
As a character, Hancock was actually very intriguing and likable. If Superman was a homeless wino with a complete disregard for surrounding architecture he would be called Hancock. His progression through the film is interesting as we see him go from an “asshole” to a hero step by step. There were many scenes involving the character that made me laugh out loud which is not an easy thing to do.
But my problem didn’t lay with the characters as much as it did with the story. The storyline was slow and seemed to drag on more than necessary. The first half of the film was entertaining as we learn more about the anti-hero but the latter half of the film was drab and predictable. If you are looking for a story that will blow you away or keep you guessing then “Hancock” is not for you. If you seek occasional laughs surrounded by entertaining acting and visuals then you might appreciate it a bit more than I did.
Overall, the acting was enjoyable for the most part and Will Smith, Jason Bateman, and Charlize Theron kept the movie alive for me. Smith and Bateman were hilarious and Charlize Theron is…well, hot. The visual effects in the film were absolutely stunning (though they were not all completed when I saw the movie) and probably the best I have seen in a feature film to date. There was plenty of action and destruction which will keep moviegoers awake but the storyline may counter that a bit. If you like films like “My Super Ex-Girlfriend” (which I didn’t) “Hancock” falls into the same genre but took it to the next level. It felt like a family movie with language and scenes that are not suitable for children which didn’t really work out too well because I still felt like I was watching a family movie. I recommend checking it out but it’s one of those movies you really only need to experience once.
“Hancock” is set to release July 2 and you can check out the trailer below. If you have any thoughts on the film, leave us a comment and let others know what you think.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icJ-qNA5wpg&hl=en]
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