Hancock: A Review

Let's just say Will Smith did not put his John Hancock on the final seal of his newest Hollywood feat.

Or for that matter, Mr. Berg failed to show up.

It did start off fair enough, Hancock using enough "up your butt" jokes (which he executes in brutal fashion) and swigs of liquor to entertain. His expensive extravaganzas - one that reaches $9 million - put him between the crosshairs of the media and general public - and this is all very good.

After surrendering to Mr. Jason Bateman, Juno's lover and adoptive father, he promises to transform into a "good job[ing]" black homo. Here Smith is almost apologetic. Almost.

And then Charlize Theorn (Bateman's wife) sneezes. Actually Will Smith does.

And there it should be cut.

Instead, after hours of cutting and last minute re-working, Berg re-shapes the movie into that of X-Men, another pathetic science-fiction melodrama.

Smith's effortless performance was less than commanding, and his character is never a distinct one - sometimes an emotional bum and sometimes a thoughtful peacekeeper. We never do seem to understand who he really is.

Adding Theorn's character makes the movie absurd. Her overimportance undermines what movie-goers want to see: Will Smith.

When Hancock finally attempts to identify himself, absurd detail one after another pile up, adding to a mess created by what should be a simple script. Instead, it steps over the fine line and reaches unchartered territory, territory even Will Smith cannot unravel.