Hancock

Yes, the premise is very original and arouses great curiosity: a superhero with superhuman abilities and a penchant for alcohol and profanity played by the lovable Smith, this should be a hit! Unfortunately, however, the "hit" definitely didn't happen; it would have required a much better script and execution. It gave me rather the impression of generic fantasy that is quite entertaining to watch once, but I don’t think I’ll ever watch it again. Strangely enough, I didn't like the action, it was too crazy from the beginning, and the flying guy who tears off car roofs and makes holes in the road didn't look spectacular to me. Fortunately, in the "quieter" parts, the film takes on quite a pleasant atmosphere, some of the jokes were hilarious and the acting talents of the leads were on full display. Apart from Smith, the most noteworthy is the fiery Charlize Theron, who still looks incredibly pretty and has perhaps the most beautiful eyes in Hollywood. Otherwise, I don't understand the media hype around Hancock, because it doesn't really have anything new to offer, which is a big shortcoming given the premise. (03/18/2012)

Peter Berg is the second director this year who hasn't received much help from Will Smith. Smith is clearly a magnet for stupid screenwriters and overzealous scissors-wielding producers, as Francis Lawrence could certainly tell us. Even Jumper should envy Hancock's genre-hopping, but unlike Doug Liman, Berg was drowned by the seriousness of the subject matter, which changed its image at the last minute into a summer blockbuster. Michael Mann wasn’t helpful either, although Berg handles the action brilliantly (my late wish that he would have made the third X-Men) and Jason Bateman ramps up his comedic talents even more. The twist in the middle was a bit expected, and unfortunately, so was the ending with the spilled syrup effect. I’d give the film about 50%. It gets bonus points for the briskness and the fact (spoiler!) that Charlize is the absolute sexiest superhero in recent years, but that's actually to be expected after Aeon Flux. Actually, we could have expected quite a lot from this... (07/21/2008)

At the moment when Berg's fans started to curse their idol for what he presents to them, I finally understand him for the first time. A classic and at the same time anti-comic spectacle, from which enthusiasm can be felt from miles away, Smith enjoys unlimited space and humor and action surpass my boldest expectations. The surprise of 2008 and my favorite Smith. (10/24/2008)

Cool action scenes, great jokes, emotions, a strong love motif plus a cool Will Smith and a sexy blonde Charlize Theron in black boots... and unfortunately it all comes to nothing, like some sort of a mirage. Hancock is a potentially great and spectacular crossover of The Last Boy Scout and X-Men turned into the emptiest marketing bubble of 2008. Or a flashy pilot of a non-existent series. (07/14/2008)

I gave Hancock four stars without any issues. After all, it has almost everything that a proper comic book film should have, and thanks to the fact that the script is "glued" together from two parts, not even David Copperfield can predict the plot! As for the ending, one of the last scenes, during which the top-notch “Death and Transfiguration" song plays, made my eyes pleasantly moist.... (03/24/2009)