A Review of Peter Berg’s Hancock — SPOILERS
By Nix | March 18, 2008 (11:13 pm) | More: Hancock (2008) Movie, Movie SPOILERS
Tonight he comes, and it sucks donkey balls? That seems to be the opinion of a fellow in Texas (Plano, Texas, to be exact), who got sent an invitation to see the first-ever screening of “Hancock” (aka the only superhero movie this summer that isn’t based on a comic book), which is directed by Peter Berg (who was on hand at the screening) and stars Will Smith and Charlize Theron. AICN has got your scoop on the first-ever review for the film’s first-ever screening, and the word is … great first half, not so much second? Beware: There are MAJOR SPOILERS below.
More:
Here is a summary of what I’m about to say in this review for those wanting to avoid spoilers:
Hancock is a severely uneven film. The first half is an amazing action comedy with some big laughs, great set pieces, and slick production value (even in its current state of incompletion), but by the second half the damn thing falls apart. They get dramatic on you. They get teary eyed on you. And the whole thing feels like a throw away episode of Friday Night Lights. The storyline is a fucking mess to be honest…I hesitate to even call it that. The tone is inconsistent and it drags like you wouldn’t believe from the middle on out.
He goes on with the SPOILERS in great detail that you can read over at AICN. Or, to sum it up, here are the bulletpoints below:
- Will Smith is a god created thousands of years ago, but doesn’t remember because he has amnesia.
- He is fighting crime in L.A. and living in a trailer. He’s a drunk, and does more damage than he helps when he’s fighting said crime.
- One day Hancock saves Jason Bateman’s marketing agent character. The agent repays him by fixing his image — by having Hancock turn himself into the cops for having sex with a minor (!!!). When he comes out of prison, he’s reformed and beloved by the public again.
- The agent happens to be married to Charlize Theron, who, as it turns out, is also a superhero. In fact, she is Hancock’s wife, and the two of them were created as pairs a long time ago, along with many others. Except they’re the only ones still alive. (Until the sequel, probably.)
- As it turns out, whenever Theron and Hancock are close together, they lose their powers and become human.
- Bateman becomes evil upon learning about his wife and Hancock’s past.
- For the finale, escape prisoners and machine guns become involved.
Okay, that last part is pretty weird. No evil supervillains? But then again, these advance screening reviews generally are devoid of too much details, although to be sure, the reviewer really seemed baffled by a lot of what happens in the movie, as if the script skimp on the explanations.
In any case, I still have high hopes for this, if only because Peter Berg has never failed me before.
100 million dollars isnt pocket change is hollywood really dumb enough to risk that without having something up ...
The “eternal lovers” thing is not totally dissimilar from Hawkman and Hawkgirl(woman) in D.C. Comics. Nonetheless, this does sound pretty stupid.
I saw this screening as well, and I totally agree. The first half is funny, but the second part has really dumb, lazy writing.
I think you are some haters saying that the second part of the movie was dragged out. I would like to see one of you make a damn movie. The movie was great.
Wow. Such narrow minded people watching films these days. No wonder the theaters are taking a dive (aside from the $100 tickets!).
Granted, I haven’t seen this film yet so I can’t speak on its behalf, but discounting a film because it gets serious is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. I actually got excited during the trailer when I saw that this was going to be more than just some random superhero film that was eye candy, like Transformers (which I also enjoyed … because I knew what I was getting into).
If you don’t want emotion and drama then stop watching films!
you’re an idiot.
I agree. Any dope can be serious and emotional. It takes skill to show restraint.
He’s right. You’re an idiot.
Did you even read why they thought the emotional parts were retarded? The fact is, the movie turned a 180, and totally lost its basis, essentially turning from an action integrated comedy that leads to a emotionally dramatic and ridiculous ending. If that doesn’t say “lost its head” then I don’t know what does! If they wanted to create an emotional movie, then fine, carry that overtone the entire movie, don’t fool the audience into making them think it’s one thing, and then totally flip-flopping on them! And of course people watch movies for emotion and drama, that’s what drives a plot, the essential human connection. Twists are fine too, as long as it doesn’t change the overall feeling. Do your math before you decide to try to call someone out.
Why don’t you actually see the movie before critiquing it? And you’re right, theaters aren’t doing well because “narrow minded people” are watching films — not because Hollywood makes bullshit, left wing, propaganda trash that nobody is willing to see! I’d call you an idiot as well, but after hearing it a hundred times you’d probably still not believe it! Idiot.
….dude, a superhero movie advertised as a comedy? Maybe you should get serious and think about what you’re defending. This movie should not have an after school special drama for a closing act…. come on!
ugh Trevor,
He SAW the movie. He has an opinion about it. It s*cks. Get over it. You however, well all I can say is the matrix has you my friend. Good luck in life and continue to take the blue pill.
Ugh Jay,
He said he saw a screening. Now by his date he posted that reveals to me he didn’t see the sneak preview, which was released yesterday or for those who live in the “past” June 27th. I got free tickets from a drawing and I saw it yesterday, hence the “past” reference. In my opinion, It was hilarious at the beginning, but near the end it was sad and serious, not dumb and lazy. Yeah, I didn’t really like the instant turn around from funny to serious, but it was still a really good movie. When you view an advance screening, such as Ramandus, you get early edits of what was meant for the film and their continuity is based on the viewer’s reactions. Bah, why bother on such ignorance, I waste my time on you, as your father wasted his sperm.
Gee, that’s a bit mean, don’t you think? And what about the mother? Sperm alone has never made a baby, while there have been recorded Virgin births. Anyway, I digress but do you have to say mean things to each other over a film where the stars are going to make tons of money regardless of who says what? Why not call him a knuckle head if you don’t like what he said. But please don’t call any human being a waste. No one is a waste of sperm, ovum or life. Ok?
T+
You’re right, but I will not admit that “No one” is a waste of sperm simply based on history and my personal views.
Any how, now that the movie is world-wide people can now fully understand that this “review” meant nothing as it was an early, rather “advanced” screening.
You’re right. Jeeeeze and all these years I was thinking how Hitler was a waste of sperm.
well spoken
Okay it was just a way of insulting him don’t take it to personally dip shit.
uhh none of this review is actually true… but whatever is on the internet you must beleive..
“These are not the droids you are looking for.”
Really? Bicker about the writing. Not each other. I haven’t seen it. Though I have an appreciation for most movies. I also have my opinions. Both of which should be the ONLY thoughts expressed. Stop making it personal. It’s passive agressive, immature, and annoying. Comment on the movie, not on someone else’s comment…it makes you look ignorant.
Suck or not..they just created at least 2 more sequels.
I just saw it; I don’t see how Bateman becomes “evil,” he’s obviously pissed that his wife withheld this pretty vital info when they were courting, esp. the part about STILL BEING TECHNICALLY MARRIED!
So… I dunno, husbands reacting negatively defined as “evil…” wow, quite a leap…
I’m going to save my $7.50 matinee ticket price. I just don’t feel like being cheated by lazy storytelling right now. Maybe I’ll feel differently once it’s out on DVD and will add it to the end of my 545 long movie Netflix queue.
My 16 year old son saw this on Thursday, with his friends. They DID NOT like this one. As my son said, “Sorry, Will, you didn’t knock one out this time”. He told me that even though the movie was short, short, short, he looked at the time on his cell 5 or 6 times wondering when it would be over. The only plus was that he only paid 4.00 to see it. Early movie at Cinnemark here in KC costs only 4.00. At least when you only pay 4.00 you don’t feel too cheated.
Take a movie for what it is, A time killer ,if you don’t like it so be it. If you do wow good for you. But stop with the Bitching.
relax people please…The Dark Knight will soon ease your pain
The first requirement to being a WINNER is to have LOSERS(HATERS)whose only purpose in life is to be a spectator on the sidelines of life!!
HATE ON HATERS, HATE ON…Number One at the Box Office. The Public has spoken!!!
this movie is pretty dang good in my opinion. it does help that it has the best actor out there. but from the reading above, when does jason bateman turn evil, hes just heartbroken. Very good movie, another good one from mr smith
Best actor out there??? I beg to differ. That’s like say Vin Diesel is the best…though they are not horrible. Either way, MONEY TALKS, though it doesn’t always tell the truth…
I really agree with you he didn’t turn evil and also about the having sex with a minor part get real!!!!!!!!! It takes stupid people to see really interpret the movie the way you all have. The problem with critics they look for too many flaws and this time they could only come up with sick twisted crap that was created in their own mind. People go see the movie for yourselves and stop letting other determine for you what you should see and not see. Go see it come up with your own opinion everything posted isn’t always right and neither are the critics always correct!!!!!
Thanks, Tia for comment! someone with some sense. The movie was very good, you knew Will and Charlize had conection, but you never knew they were married, Jason Bateman gave a great.
Excuse my grammer…
I saw the movie and the pure crap this guy wrote has NOTHING to do with the movie. Most of it has been made up in his little mind. You guys should just go see the movie. I thought it was awesome!
You all suck. This movie was good and it was nice to see a switch from the normal movies, good guy trying to be defeated by evil vilians and then the good guy has to fight almost loses his power but somehow over comes and wins. SAME OLE SAME OLE nice to see a change from the comic book heros. We have a super hero with real feelings dealing with everyday life and not just fighting crime and loved by everybody. All though he had powers it showed that he too, was just like the rest of us inside. He wanted to be accepted and loved and he was beaten down about being alone. To the writers producers and my favorite BLACK actor of all times Will Smith Great job. Finally a BLACK SUPER HERO!!!!!!!!!!!
Finally? I guess you missed Spawn, Mantis (Early 1990’s Fox series Lead into the X files) James Rhodes (Tony Stark’s Best friend)who becomes Iron Man (at least in the comic won’t be surprised in the sequel)little known Marvel Comic turned movie super franchise Blade. Wil Smith’s other little known Movie franchise “Men in Black’ was also derived from a short lived comic, in which both agents (considered superheros) were originally white. Marvel comics has also revamped the Captain America story line to concede to the fact that the original “serum tester”, and Captain America were black. Captain America ally “The Falcon” is black.
Cyborg from the Teen Titans is black. Hal Jordan may be the best known Green Lantern, but black counterpart Jon Stewart, is more widely known in American Pop Culture. Even the man of steel was black for a while. 1992’s “The Death of Superman’ gave birth to Steel, a black man, who in the DC Universe resides in my home town of Hometown of Jersey City, NJ. So yeah…it’s about time. If we’re not careful we may wind up with a black president.
Obama ‘08
IF WERE NOT CARFULL YOU SAY! listen boy IM BLACK AND I F IND THAT RACIST!
shut up negros you’re all dumb - shine my damn shoes.
Spawn wasn’t a super hero and most of the characters you named didn’t make to the big screen as Will Smith’s character did. So yes again I will say FINALLY!!!!! Blade wasn’t a superhero,and the black superman never heard of it it didn’t make it to the big times and surely isn’t remembered that much. So far as your comment about being careful that we may end up with a black president shows just how small minded this country really is and it shows just how much of an ass you are for even saying it. Since you want to make things a racial issue apparantly you are not black. It’s about time someone black stepped up to the plate and I hope he wins because the track record of the “white” men that has ran this country recently hasn’t been a good one. It is a white man that has this country in the state that it is in. So here’s to another super hero, OBAMA!!!!
blade is a superhero, marvel and all, and steel made it big time.you haven’t seen movie with the real best black actor SHAQ?
ARE YOU FUCKING INSANE!??!
this was by far one the the best superhero movies i have ever seen
The story line was simply brilliant and the twist in the middle snuck u p on you. It like you know its going to happen then it dose.
Not only is it good it is funny, will smith is a great actor and he dosn’t need some punk like you to prove it
i give this movie a 9/10 (the only reason i dont give it a 10/10 is the movie diddnt have too much of a point i realized the point and everything but it was too…….oh wats the word……lets say it could have had more detail)
…….
ALL THESE COMMENTS HOWEVER VALID OR INVALID THEY SEEM….EVERYBODY HAS TO BITCH ABOUT SOMETHING…I SAW IT IT WASNT BAD… BUT I HAVE SEEN SOME OF HIS OTHER MOVIES…NO MATTER WHAT… IT IS SOMEONE …SOMEWHERE ALWAYS TAKES A LITTLE PIECE OUT OF THEIR LIVES AND TRIES TO DEPICT WHAT THE STORY TELLS….OR WAS IT ABOUT HOW MS.THERON DURING THEIR COURTSHIP FAILED TO SAY THAT SHE WAS STILL MARRIED…OR WAS IT IN FACT THE PERSON SAYING ALL THIS…IT HAPPENED TO HIM….NO MATTER WHAT…ALL THE SHOWS ARE FOR ENTERTAINMENT…YOU WIN SOME …YOU LOSE SOME…GET OVER IT…ITS A MOVIE WITH NO BEARING ON REAL LIFE….EXCEPT FOR THE GUY WHO HARPED ON CHARLIZE STILL BEING MARRIED IN THE MOVIE…..INTERESTING…..AND QUIT BRINGING RACE INTO ALL THIS…IT A MOVIE….MAKE BELEIVE……GET IT….
WHAT YOU ALL NEED TO DO IS GET YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER BEFORE JESUS COMES BACK.IT’S NOT REAL LIFE,ITS A MOVIE.READ THE BIBLE AND GET YOUR LIFE STRAIGHT CAUSE THERE ARE NOT ANY MOVIES IN HELL.
Guys its will smith any movie with will smith is awesome plain and simple u dumb asses this was a good movie different than other movies I liked how it took a big turn u never really know what was gonna happen it was good watch it
Lol, I feel like im reading a bulletin or blogpost on myspace.
you guys are all nuts
stop being jerks about the freek’n movie, stop hating! The movie was great you booty wipes!!!!!!!!!!
lets see one of you negative dill weeds make a movie!!!!!!!!
Wow… i stumbled on this page by accident and have to say… 34,000 children die every day from malnutrition, the economy is crashing, the world is plummeting into factionalist wars of faith… and if THIS FICTIONAL MOVIE is the biggest problem you have going on in your life (as seems implicit in your overly-dramatic debate), I have to say that your life is pretty well off. Good grief… get out in the real world for a day or two, lol.
Too all you idiots hating on the movie. It has already made over 66million, and is a little late for negativity. It was ok and I am not disappointed that I took my family of 5. I normally rate movies by saying “oh, that’s one for the DVD”, but it was pretty good. Not as bad as you negative blasters are making it.
I saw the movie last night and then I read everyone’s comments. Most of you did not get the movie at all. Here is a man who has no clue about why and how he received these superpowers.This is why he drinks. He gets up every morning trying to remember who the hell he is and why he has these powers,and why dosen’t he age. He finally meets a family that cares, because nobody is actually caring about them; the husband/father is trying to get people to care about people, they don’t. The son is getting beat up by a boy who doesn’t care.Ms. Theron is the missing piece to the movie. They were to be a couple and grow old and die after they would lose their super powers. But here is the key: white woman/black man. When he was in the hospital she pointed out the scars. The scar that had him lose his memory happened when they were walking hand in hand in Florida 80 years ago.1928 people. Emmitt Till was murdered for whistling at a white woman. So these two holding hands and in love,”parrish the thought” The racist idoits beat him and then would not let her ride in the ambulance. The comedy in the begin is us laughing at people being “cussed out”, children needing to have their faces slapped and police being unprepared Hmmmm. Some of us have comedy and drama everyday. Think about it, we have to laugh to keep from crying about just going to the gas pump. GREAT MOVIE!!!
You are ‘right on the money’ “All Clueless”. I totally agree. At first I was thinking it was because bad guys eventually found out who they were but usually in Will Smith’s movies he doesn’t focus on the negative views once and still held by some people. She’s right though, black man / white woman then and now is still not liked by certain individuals even in Hollywood. I really liked the movie, it’s funny and dramatic moments. Especially its dramatic parts. I think Charlize Theron and Will Smith make a great couple in this film. It didn’t detract at all but instead gave it distinct character for an original superhero movie.
Sounds like a bunch of “kids” on speed arguing about NOTHING.Ok so some of you love the movie,some don`t.The World isn`t going to change it`s path trough the wast cosmos as you write your statement.Calm down,make love not war.
The only reason why most of you spend time to write foul language and say the things you do is:The Internet.
In the real life you watch your mouth and think before you speak ,if not, there will surely be trouble heading you way.
It`s sad that the Internet make so many people loose control of their emotions and values.Most of you feel safe behind you fire wall,no one can touch you, so you write no bars hold.Even if this can be very liberating at the very moment,it really does nothing but degrade the forum or site you use to spew your fury on.
This site is one of my favorite places to find movie related information,call me an old fart, but the name calling some you guys use make you sound unintelligent.Why not try to make a well written statement about why you like/don`t like the movie?
The user Your daddy is by far the worst user,I hope the admin on this site ban his IP address for many years.I`m all down for a great discussions about any movie related topics,but using bad language is just uncalled for.Act you age,I`m 35 years old.
How old are you guys/girls?
ok anyone who thinks theyre oppinions really matter in hollywood get your heads out of your a$$ this was not a superhero movie in the way we think of superman or batman or the like and if you try to watch it as such then yes it sucks this is a story of a guy who has incredible powers and knows nothing of why now go watch and enjoy i know i did
you are so correct!I need not add.I hope other users would take cognisance of what you wrote.
also i totaly agre with the guy above me
I totally agree with you and victor
i have seen it 3 times,what is that guys name that stars in it?????
His name is “BOX OFFICE WILL”
his name MR FOURTH OF JULY
Gee, lots of great intelligent discussion so far. But does Charlize Theron expose her b00bs? That’s what I want to see. B00bs and lots of ‘em. Big ones. Filling the screen. Charlize nekkid and rolling around in olive oil. Is that scene in the movie?
Please please, you must become the movie to be credible. Be be the movie let it flow thru you like the life blood of of our imaginations. Everything we expect in life does not always appear in ways that we want them to. Enjoy your experiences and grow!
The first president of the United States was a black man. Know your history!
Another Will Smith movie =ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
A very enjoyable movie. I disagree totally with this review, unless of course this review was actually about that silly “I Am Legend” thing that came out last year. What a load of crap that was. Good to see Will Smith get back to movie making.
Ugh the movie is the shit actually everyone wants to say it ducks maybe u need to watch it before u say shit.
Let me guess another Will Smith movie and he saves the world. Justin Timberlake and Madonna should have had Will Smith in there song too.
The film was ok nothing even close to his past films. Will Smith really let us down this time. He needs to re-group.
The last part of the movie was stupid. kthx.
As you may already know the film starts out funny then turns serious.
My opinion: acting is superb, but the film just loses it in the 2nd half.
I think the jump the shark moment was when we find out that Theron is a superhero.
I think its either the producer wanted it finished quickly to make a quick buck.
Or the director wanted to get it wrapped quickly and move on.
Or the writer was lazy to properly finish, or maybe was still on strike at the time.
Anyway they failed to utilise great actors they had at their disposale.