A New Brand of Superhero

Rating: 8/10 (20 January 2019)

8 July 2008. This daring attempt at a new perspective of superhero directed by Peter Berg results in a dramatic, fantasy, comedy that has mixed results. With good performances by Wil Smith and Charlize Theron, they find themselves in a different, harder edged superhero movie that reveals the human character of being superhuman but at the same time reflecting the a closer connection to the audience than may be comfortable. We get to see alcoholism, anger and its attempted management, we get to see human sacrifice. The first half of the movie reveals a more raw aspect of the frailty of the human spirit regardless of one's power. The second half of the movie reveals the nature of a curse similar to Ladyhawke (1985). Unfortunately, the risk of extending beyond the traditional tried and true superhero scenario sometimes requires experiments and different approaches that require the audience to move along and accept such changes. Sometimes the experience is bumpy, like a new developing film media form getting used to its feet. The result is jarring, jagged, almost forced to make logical sense, but never fatally nor offensively repelling. There are good connections, good interplays between Wil Smith and Charlize Theron. Eight out of Ten Stars.