After numerous summer blockbusters where nerds are transformed into superheroes, along comes “Hancock” (Will Smith) a drunken, street-bum by day, who has no desire to even be a superhero, by night. But when Hancock accidentally saves the life of Ray (Jason Bateman) – a PR executive trying to campaign to save the world – he takes Hancock under his wing, wanting to change Hancock’s image. And in order to do so, Hancock has to recognize that he has a ‘calling’as a superhero, whether he likes it or not. But don’t try putting him in a lycra costume, because it’s just not his thing. While Spiderman, Iron Man and Superman care about themselves and their purpose, this is where this movie falls short. How do we love a superhero who doesn’t love himself?
After the first half hour the movie struggles to keep up with its own story. This is not a movie for little boys. This is not a film with cartoon villains. This is a movie with criminals and violence. That’s the difference between Hancock and Batman or Spidey. And in the second half of the movie, the story derails significantly, when Ray’s wife, Mary (Charlize Theron) has her own secrets. Three tiaras for the first half with one tiara for the second half. Probably equals about less than two tiaras for the movie in its entirety. You do the math. One and a Half tiaras.