Good, solid and funny film but tries to be too many things at once.

Rating: 8/10 (7 April 2013)

Hancock is an interesting film, this much has to be said.
The concept of taking a Superman style hero, powers and all and making him a low life, bungling alcoholic has to be one of the most original ever to cross a studio executive's desk.
The film scores well on so many points but you just feel that something was missed.
Hancock drifts between superhero movie, comedy and drama and thus spreads itself a little too thin to be good at any. The comedy is stunted by the all too serious tones and the lack of any real villain is a major downside because what it gets right and what we are treated to most of is the superhero side and no baddie equals why bother?
Bad points aside though this is a good film. The special effects are top notch and we are treated to some great flying effects and fight scenes. The humour is snappy and spot on with some great delivery by Smith although it is just a bit too sparce and I feel more could have been put in to the script without the danger of it becoming comedy farce.
I can see what the director is trying to do with the drama and it works with the subject matter but to tackle such deep psychological subjects of a superhero you really need something epic and fleshed out and as stated before, it's too much of a lot of things at once and never gets to a climax with any of them.
A special mention has to go to the soundtrack. The selection of moody down and out blues mixed with some well placed funk and rap songs at appropriate moments really lifts the character and emphasises the fact that this is a much needed black superhero in a world of lilly white comic book crimefighters.
Hancock is worth checking out, indeed if like me you are a fan of such superheros (Personally I like any film where someone has the ability to fly) but the film does seem to blow it's load in the first half an hour and descends into more grim territory later on.
It would certainly be worthy of a more fleshed out sequel because when an idea is this good it would be a shame to let it die!