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Hancock By John Mulderig Catholic News Service NEW YORK (CNS) -- "Hancock" (Columbia/Relativity) offers a new twist on a hoary Hollywood genre by presenting viewers with a superhero who's dyspeptic, alcoholic and destructively inept. But its clever premise and dizzying special effects only sustain the film to its halfway mark. Despite his obvious flaws, the titular character (Will Smith) is a dedicated do-gooder, but his well-intentioned deeds often lead to mayhem. For example, he stops a high-speed car chase, but not before trashing a number of passing vehicles; he rescues a beached whale but sinks a yacht in the process. His fellow Los Angelinos wonder if he's more chump than champion. When idealistic PR executive Ray (Jason Bateman) gets trapped on the railroad tracks and Hancock saves his life, Ray wants to return the favor by reforming his new friend and improving his image. As a first step, he brings home the normally unsociable Hancock -- whose unique abilities and amnesia concerning his early life keep him from connecting with people -- to meet his wife, Mary (Charlize Theron), and their son, Aaron (Jae Head). While young Aaron is soon an enthusiastic fan, a skeptical Mary seems to mistrust Hancock and urges Ray to keep his distance. Her disdain for Hancock's antics turns out to mask an attraction to her husband's latest client, and the feeling is mutual. What happens next is a snappy, thoroughly unexpected plot twist courtesy of Vy Vincent Ngo and Vince Gilligan's script, though one that introduces the murky mythology in which the remainder of director Peter Berg's film bogs down. Although Hancock's irritability and hardscrabble street life are played for laughs, his moral shortcomings are never disguised as virtues. Ray and Mary's strong family life is emphasized throughout, and contrasted with Hancock's vulnerable solitude. On the debit side, brief references to the aforementioned mythology include an alternative explanation for at least one traditional religious belief. But this amounts to little more than a passing effort to anchor the fantasy plot in reality, and the focus soon returns to Hancock's explosive exploits. The film contains moderately intense fantasy action, partial rear nudity, some vulgar humor, occasional rough and much crude language, a profanity and an obscene gesture. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. - - - Mulderig is on the staff of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. More reviews are available online at www.usccb.org/movies. END Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed. CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250 |
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