Quite a decent movie - and completely lacking Stan Lee

Rating: 8/10 (9 July 2008)

SPOILERS AHEAD! BE WARNED! Okay, that's out of the way.
John Hancock - played quite aptly by Will Smith - is a superhero with a problem. He's anti-social, rather apathetic to how people feel about him, and quite frankly has seen better days. For all that, he's still got the desire to fight crime, criminals, and be the good guy.
Ray Embrey - played by Jason Bateman - is an idealistic ad man. He wants to make a difference in the world.
Mary Embrey - played wonderfully by Charlize Theron - seems to be the perfect housewife. She's quite happy with her life, her family - and for some reason has real issues with Hancock.
Aaron Embrey - Jae Head - is the son of Mary and Ray, and thinks that Hancock is neat.
This is not your typical Marvel or DC comic adaptation. It's also not quite the funny comedy that a lot of people apparently thought it was supposed to be. Oh, it starts out quite funny. You've seen part of the opening in trailers - criminals running from the police, shooting at them. A kid wakes up a drunken Hancock, who then 'saves' the day, while in the meantime causing millions of dollars in property damage. (Which is something that was NEVER addressed in Fantastic Four, Superman, Spiderman, or ANY other superhero movie - which is one reason I liked this movie!) Ray has a positive attitude towards life, and believes in the best part of people. While stuck on train tracks in traffic, Hancock saves his life (and causes millions MORE in property damage - nice train wreck). Hancock takes Ray home, and Ray invites him in. Mary is QUITE displeased to see Hancock - yet you can tell that there's something going on with her about him.
You find out that Hancock isn't really his name - someone told him to put his John Hancock on a form, and that's what he thought his name was, so he's been going by that ever since. Ray decides, since he's indebted to Hancock and that since advertising is supposed to be his game - he should help Hancock with his image.
Of course, going to jail, coming out, becoming a costumed hero and actually getting recognition from the public and police for being the good guy is all well and good. This seems to really be turning Hancock around - and that's when the movie changes from being a comedy about a superhero to being a tragic love story.
I'm not going to spoil the ending - but just when you think that the clash between a second super-hero and Hancock is going to be comedy also - you realize that actually, this wasn't really a comedy at all. It's a love story that has, quite literally, spanned thousands of years. One that, for there to be a happy ending, has to remain unrequited - because otherwise all involved will die.
Oh, and don't leave right when the credits start - there's an extra scene set in Hancocks new home of New York.