A different kind of Superhero movie

Rating: 6/10 (6 July 2008)

Hancock may appear at first to be typical superhero movie like Spiderman, Hulk, Ironman etc... however the intent with this movie was to be outside the typical superhero movie genre - IE: don't expect super villain(s) and a back-story about Hancock's origins (although some of this is revealed in the movie, the origins aren't covered in much depth).
Jason Bateman shines in this movie as a struggling Public Relations consultant who takes up the challenging role of Hancock's PR representative. Bateman's character is endearing to the viewer as we see his endless optimism for Hancock's potential, which results in some comical scenes between Bateman and Smith eg: "Say 'Good Job Officer', 'goooooood jooooob'" :).
I was actually slightly disappointed by Charlize Theron's performance which has been criticized by others, but that is open to interpretation - let's just say she doesn't have a good poker face. However this doesn't detract from the overall enjoyment of the movie.
As many of you will have already seen the trailers you may notice that this isn't really about any major conflict or world saving mission like all the other superhero movies. This was never the intention of Hancock. Put simply, it is the story of Hancock coming to terms with who he is and realizing his true potential - to be a great hero (rather than a bad hero).
The special effects are good, the story is more humor than action, but it's a good enough mix to keep you entertained from start to finish. Hancock is an enjoyable, fun movie with a good storyline (for a comedy/action flick) that should satisfy all but the most demanding of viewers.
7.5/10 (rounded-up to 8/10)