Will Smith defies the standards of his superhero predecessors in HANCOCK. Smith is the title character, a heavy-drinking, often-cursing and nearly homeless superhero who finds little acclaim for his efforts. Oh Hancock saves lives and captures criminals, but in the process leaves the city and its residents with a lot of mess to clean-up. After saving Roy Embrey from a potential train crash, Embrey, a public relations professional, decides to return the favor. Embrey plans on revamping Hancock’s image, and believes making amends for his collateral damage is the first step in the process.
Hancock is not your average superhero, and HANCOCK is not your average superhero movie. Two things stand out about the film, one which I can divulge, and the other which I’ll leave up to the film itself. The first, and undoubtedly the reason to view HANCOCK is another star-turning performance by Smith. Smith is one of the most likable, maybe the most likable leading man, and Hancock both affirms and challenges his status as such. Hancock, as previously mentioned, is a boozing, inconsiderate, rude and slightly disgusting superhero. The fact that Smith maintains all of these attributes, and still finds a dose of charm in the flawed superman, is not only a tribute to his star power, but also to his unshakable good nature. The other portion of HANCOCK that stands out is its twist, which serves as both a detriment and as an intriguing factor in the film. The twist, in retrospect, isn’t quite as surprising as initially anticipated after adding up the variables, but needless to say, takes HANCOCK to another level. This next level is one where the writers have created more than can handle, especially within the confines of a 92-minute picture. Just like its protagonist, HANCOCK is flawed, but inevitability worth it.
No comments:
Post a Comment