It's Like Two Movies Have Been Condensed In To One.

Rating: 7/10 (17 December 2017)

Continuing my plan to watch every Will Smit movie in order, I come to Hancock (2008)
I watched the unrated version.
The year the MCU started, also saw Will Smith trying his hand at a superhero movie. Hancock is two movies. The first movie is about an anti hero learning to become superhero, and is by far the better of the two. The second movie is more of an origin story, as we learn more about Hancock's past and he finds out he is not alone. Both parts could have worked well as as stand alone movies, but put together its muffled and uneven.
The movie shows all the signs of studio interference and never establishes a clear tone. Hancock only works because of Will Smith, whose performance is stronger than what the movie deserves. Don't get me wrong; I don't hate it, it is sometimes funny, sometimes clever, and occasionally enjoyable. Especially the first 50 minutes.
Charline Theron is ok, as is Jason Bateman (who basically just plays the same guy he always plays) One of the problems is the lack of any real villain. Red Parker is just a weasel with a gun and is no real threat.
Hancock grossed $227 million at the domestic box office to end 2008 the 4th highest grossing movie of the year. Smith highest performing movie since Men In Black.