Giving new meaning to 'anti-hero' ; Big Willie is the bomb

Rating: 8/10 (14 July 2008)

HANCOCK (2008) *** Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman, Jae Head, Eddie Marsan. Nifty spin on the superhero flick with Smith having fun as the titular reluctant superhuman whose great powers he finds difficult incorporating great responsibility until his encounter with luckless PR agent Bateman (a model of comic perfection) who decides the foul-mouthed, drunken anti-hero really needs a make-over and fast if he wants to be accepted into society. Vincent Ngo and Vince Gilligan's sharp, satirical screenplay smartly streamlines comic book ethos and mythology by eschewing the noble cause and instead focus on the fatal flaws while director Peter Berg incorporates the right blend of over-the-top visual effects, spot-on comedy and some depth to the characters at hand ; not an easy task and frankly the third act's 'surprising twist' is seen too far in advance. But Big Willie is the bomb.