solid first hour turns into convoluted mess

Rating: 4/10 (15 February 2009)

I really enjoyed the first hour of this movie. Smith plays an unlikable "anti" hero who seems to do more damage than good as he fights crime in Los Angeles. People hate him, and he doesn't seem to care one bit. That is until he saves the life of flaky, but kind hearted Bateman, who becomes his friend and vows to change his image.
I thought it kind of dumb that the city of Los Angeles wanted to jail Smith for all the property destruction his hero antics has caused throughout the years, seeing the fact that he's invincible and there's not a jail house that exists that could contain him. I thought: "You people don't know that?" I thought likewise about the criminals that he encounters once he voluntarily incarcerates himself. He put a good lot of them away himself, they attempt to antagonize and bully him. If anyone knows what he's capable of it would be them, and they still are going to try to harm him? The whole scene exists so that Smith makes good on a threat about putting someone's head somewhere where the sun don't shine.
I thought, "OK." It strange, but not enough to throw off the movie. The real trouble starts when it's revealed that Theron is also a superhero, I could actually hear the movie spiraling downhill.
Not only was it unnecessary and stupid, it's also convoluted and hokey. It didn't take me long to get angry at the movie for taking such a lame turn. Apparently Smith and Theron are some sort of superhero star crossed lovers who turn mortal and are able to get hurt when near one another. He of course has amnesia, and remembers none of this. Stupid? Yes. Especially considering that for the first hour he was around her plenty and never lost any of his powers.
Of course, conveniently this is the point where a couple of jail-house thugs break out and go after him. I'm not sure if they possessed any superpowers themselves, or just knew about the vulnerability of Hancock turning mortal. I wasn't interested enough to pay attention. Anyhow, Smith & Theron are mortally wounded and almost die, but don't, Smith musters up enough power to "go away" thus restoring their powers and saving them both. He lives and moves to fight crime another day in New York City or some other unnamed metropolis.
The movie would've been great if it kept the straightforward, simple plot established in the first hour. Instead it sinks into an overcomplicated, soggy, ultimately disappointing lazily written, second half. Smith does a good job in the movie, and tries to do the best he can with the sloppy second act.
I like Bateman. The movies i've seen him in he's played everything from a straight laced accountant (Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium) to a smarmy jerk (The Ex). He plays his role convincingly & straightforward here, and thankfully doesn't contribute to the over-complication. Theron, unfortunately I cannot vouch for. I've seen her in great roles, and know her flexibility as an actress. Her role in this movie could've easily been played by anyone, not to mention reduced. A script overhaul, especially regarding her character and the plot involved with it would've done this movie a solid.
It's not a god awful film, but you'll leave disappointed after experiencing what was a great first hour.