Film 23) Hancock

Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman (August 30, 2008)

I'm sure that many people will see this movie expecting it to be a laugh a minute tale about a drunken superhero who cleans up his act. And, they will get that, for the first twenty minutes of the movie. After that point, the story changes.

Smith plays John Hancock, a superhero of a sort. He's a superhero that will destroy what he is trying to rescue, for example, he swings a beached whale back into the ocean and it lands on a yacht. He drinks, he sleeps, and he breaks things. He is not very popular. All that changes when he saves the life of PR guy Ray Embrey. Ray takes Hancock under his wing and tries to give Hancock back his pride. In the course of this, Hancock is introduced to Mary, Ray's wife and she seems startled to see him. Why?

The film that I expected, was not the film that I saw, and for that I am grateful. Instead of another superhero redeeming himself and saving the world, I saw a film that was touching and thoughtful. I'm so glad that it wasn't what I expected. Worth seeing if you like any of the principals, just remember it isn't a laugh a minute action film. Laughs-yes, action-yes, but depth too. A treat.