Hancock Revisited

I don’t know that this is Will Smith’s signature role. I would have to recall Seven Pounds, The Pursuit of Happyness, Men in Black, MIB3, Concussion, Ali (which I still need to see), and of course, Hitch. I din’t originally enjoy Hancock, with its intentionally jerky camera work, offbeat story and a tale of love’s labors lost, but on my recent reencounter, I found Hancock thoroughly enjoyable.

Alcoholic, angry and depressed, Hancock seems like Hitch on an especially bad day; maybe Brenneman made good, but Hitch missed the boat, and is trying to make sense of things. Seeing as how he has superpowers and loves his work, he’s making a right mess of his crime fighting opportunities by presenting as a really bad case of, “Hulk-Smash”.

[image error] John Hancock & Ray Embrey

Enter ever-likeable Jason Bateman, only outdone by his crushworthy sister, Justine. Bateman is a PR executive who takes on the client-challenge of a lifetime in Hancock. Gorgeous Charlize Theron is Bateman’s wife, who makes a mean spaghetti, and has some interesting attitudes. The core cast is rounded out with Jae Head, who also played a loveable kid in The Blind Side.

I’ll call Hancock a “film”, not a “movie”, contrary to my earlier impressions due to heavy CGI and continual action; like the Bible, or even fiction, something encountered a second or multiple times may find the palate a changed one. As a film, Hancock plays some interesting notes; these I find fascinating, if somewhat sad.

…or perhaps his surrender is his real superpower.

[image error] The guy I needed to stick up for me as a kid



[image error]