Will Smith Reclaims his Box Office Crown in HANCOCK

Today’s posts features a fractal called Crown of Stars 2. It seemed fitting because of the title of today’s post and the movie also starred summer-movie king Will Smith and Oscar-winner Charlize Theron. These serendipitous conditions made the choice pretty obvious in my position. So--on with the review!
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Will Smith is the undisputed “King of the Box Office” on the July 4th weekend--but then again, virtually everything he puts out turns into box-office gold. In my opinion his last movie, I Am Legend (the movie with the worst reviews and lowest grade I‘ve ever given--on this blog at least) was something of a misstep. Still, with Hancock, his latest film, Smith has climbed back up to be King of the Hill once again.
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Hancock is a “super hero” living in Los Angeles. He has all kinds of cool powers--but he is unappreciated for his bad attitude and generally cavalier disregard for ancillary property damages when he goes after the bad guys. Oh--and did I mention he’s an alcoholic? His life takes on a new direction when he saves nice-guy advertising agent Ray Embrey (ably played by Jason Bateman in another thankless supporting role). Ray, who desperately wants to save the world decides to save Hancock instead by rehabilitating his image. Ray’s super-cute son Adam (Jae Head--and what kind of name is THAT??) is all for the idea but Ray’s wife Mary (Charlize Theron) isn’t nearly as keen on the idea. Turns out she has a secret of her own but I won’t reveal that here. Go see the movie or e-Mail me privately if you want the rest of the story.
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The movie starts out spectacularly enough with an amazing battle that sets the usual super-heroic conventions on their ear--and continues in that way for about an hour. Once the “big reveal” happens though Hancock turns predictable and not quite so amazing. Still, there is a good mix of action, humor (some of it frankly gross--but I still loved it) and pathos. Like many summer biggies the movie doesn’t hold up well under close examination. (There were way too many times I found myself pulled out of the movie asking myself “what’s up with that?” or “how could they do that?”) Still, the fast pace never lags and the directing doesn’t get in the way of an enjoyable summer movie.
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Hancock is nearly the perfect summer movie: action, humor, spectacular FX and massive property destruction in Los Angeles all combine to make one enjoyable “popcorn” flick. Park your brain at the door and your younger kids at the baby sitter’s (since there is some rough language and some graphic, if horribly funny, violence in the move) and enjoy!
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FINAL GRADE: B+