Movie Review: Hancock

Summary: An alcoholic superhero gets a makeover by an ambitious PR executive who wants to make him more likeable, profitable, and not take the law into his own hands.

Review: Will Smith, the 39 year-old Philadelphia native is Hollywood royalty, and he will more than likely strike gold again with Hancock, which is in theaters today. You would think folks would get tired of seeing Smith as Mr. Good Guy, but for some reason he manages to make it fresh each time. As the tagline reads, Hancock is "not your average superhero."

Smith delivers as Hancock, the unruly superhero who is loved by some but mainly hated by the City of Los Angeles. Jason Bateman is a PR executive who wants to polish up Hancock so he is a help to his community versus a nuance. Bateman's wife, played by Oscar winner Charlize Theron, is weary of Hancock and the threat his powers causes to her family.

In the beginning, Hancock feels like a trite superhero film with overzealous special effects and a loopy plot. However, by the second half there is an engaging plot turn that manages to rejuvenate its audience without the film taking itself too seriously. Every dull moment at the start of Hancock is made up with witty action for the rest of the film.

Sure, this is no Bad Boys or Men in Black, but it's probably one of the better superhero films to come out this year. Yes, there are plenty of plot holes and the CGI effects could easily land this film on the Cartoon Network, but Hancock is still a fun summer film.

Will Smith has had nearly a flawless career when it comes to films, excluding The Legend of Bagger Vance and Wild Wild West, and Hancock will more than likely be no different. No matter how fluffy one might think his work is, he always manages to choose a good script and balance the cheese ball with substance. Expect another blockbuster for Smith and it will be well deserved.

Grade: B

Hancock is in theaters today, July 2nd.

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