Ryan McNeil
It’s been a day and a half since the lights went up at my matinee of HANCOCK. In that 36 hours or so, when I think about the movie, I keep coming back to one word: “Frustrating”.
Will Smith stars as John Hancock, a surly and reluctant superhero who spends his days just sober enough to save the citizens of Los Angeles while leaving monstrous amounts of property damage in his well-intentioned wake. One day he comes to the rescue of Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman), and since Ray is a PR rep he realizes that the best thing he can do to thank Hancock for saving his life is to use his spin talents to rehabilitate Hancock’s image. Hancock is unenthused. Emery is undeterred. Emery’s wife Mary (Charlize Theron) is supportive at arm’s length.
When a warrant is sworn out for Hancock’s arrest, Emery sees his opportunity, and persuades Hancock to report to prison. The idea is that with Hancock serving his sentence, the city will start to see how much they miss him. Inevitably, a crime unfolds that requires the chief of police to call on Hancock’s help. Jumping into battle like a newly minted X-Man, Hancock’s revitalized methods turn him into an icon. Emery’s plan has worked, but Mary still seems uneasy by the entire arrangement. Why?
Well…I don’t want to say. It’s at this point that the movie takes a hard right turn, and your opinion of the movie hinges on your opinion of the turn. One thing I will say is that I am amazingly impressed with Sony Pictures. The twist happens just past the halfway point of the movie, and the marketing of the movie has given audiences no clue about what’s coming. I’ve spent years bemoaning the fact that many-a-movie gets most of its plot revealed in commercials and trailers. Sony has done well to keep the point of this story under wraps, because when it turns – it catches the entire audience by surprise.
Without getting too specific, I’ll say that the ultimate payoff didn’t work for me. It’s a fantastic concept, but one that doesn’t seem to truly lead anywhere promising. Not only that, but the third act has a few confrontations that feel over-the-top and fruitless. Perhaps most frustrating is the fact that the turn happens right after an amazingly well-crafted scene. We watch Embrey, Mary, and Hancock talk over dinner after his triumphant comeback. The scene is beautifully shot in a way that feels natural…like you were sitting at the next table and listening in. Further, Will Smith’s performance in the scene is beautiful in its subtlety. He turns off the smart-assed cockiness for a moment, and taps into something more searching and broken.
This unfortunately leads me to my next problem with the movie – the casting of Smith as Hancock. For me, it is difficult to believe Smith as a malt liquor swilling, snot blowing, touque wearing slob. I could buy Will Smith in IRON MAN…I could buy Will Smith in DAREDEVIL…I can’t buy him as Hancock. After years of seeing a star like Will killing aliens, robots, vampires, and other evil-doers, he’s taken on a larger-than-life quality. That quality doesn’t suit the character of Hancock – even after his PR make-over. I think the movie might have worked better with a lesser-known in the lead. Then again, the script kicked around Hollywood for ten years, so with a lesser-known in the lead it might never have been made.
The whole experience leaves me frustrated to no end because I really wanted to like this movie, and I really wanted to trumpet the virtues of keeping a twist a secret. Unfortunately, there was too much of HANCOCK that needed more focus, more direction, and – yes Embrey – more spin.
Well. I’ll be waiting for DVD then.
Thanks Mav.
It really was a movie that I wanted to like but didn’t really like. It was a great idea, but killed by test audiences and focus group scores. Here’s hoping a director’s cut will be on Blu-Ray.
I feel like I’m in the huge minority of people that enjoyed this film.
I think it rocks that they didn’t give into letting the audience know about a key part but due to all of the backlash I’m wonder if they are annoyed they didn’t know or if there is something else going on.
I thought it was fantastic. It was great to be surprized, and overall I thought it was a great summer movie.
Shannon – when “the turn” happened, my immediate thought was “Holy crap…here’s what’s going to make me LOVE this movie”.
I wouldn’t count myself as a hater, and part of the backlash. I just didn’t like the final payoff enough to give the whole flick a thumb’s up.
Be proud of being in the minority! I’m still in the minority for THE HAPPENING and proud of it!!