Hancock Delivers Multi-Generational Reality

We’ve all felt it, that perpetual frustration when dealing with the challenges of a world integrated with a variety of cutural and generational ideologies. With every positive step we take, someone or something with a different set of equally valid ideas says, “No.” How are we to feel super-human when not even the least amount of respect for our individual efforts is paid? Peter Berg’s Hancock explores these concepts in a not so typical blockbuster fashion. After all, who can’t relate to the idea of talent kept in check when we know what we are doing will help?

Hancock’s personal exploits seem almost mundane. At first glance, we are treated to an individual with otherwise extreme powers who has somehow lost his reason for even trying. Hancock revels in public intoxication with no regard for his immediate appearance. He enters with an impulsive shock and leaves with the same level of bravado, logically concluding that his strengths are beneficial. Except that Hancock has a tendency to scare everyone. With every crashing locomotive and thunderous crunch of yet another demolished building, people everywhere who simply want to live in peace shout, “Enough!” Take your talents elsewhere! We’re doing fine with what we have so far. But it isn’t quite that simple.

Today’s reality begs for some sort of reconciliation between the mesh of cultures and generation gaps experienced on a daily basis. The Baby Boomers are still very much in charge, while Generation X is certain their way of looking at things will actually work for the better. But Ray Embrey’s marketing vision of giving away expensive products for free falls on stubborn ears. And what about the Millennials or Echo Boomers, as they are sometimes referred to? They are also convinced of the supremacy of their path. Add to this the different viewpoints between African-American, Latino, and every other culture represented, and what you have are individuals who may feel the only way to be adequately heard is merely to be indifferent. Stop paying respect to another establishment because it stopped paying respect to you.

Films these days are becoming increasingly complex, no doubt reflecting the challenges and frustrations in today’s cross-cultural, multi-generational reality. Hancock recognizes these situations, hoping to alert ourselves to the incredible strengths we as individuals have to offer to society as a whole. Of course, all of us at one point or another wish to escape into the relative security of like minded thinkers, but at the risk of diluting and even eliminating our personal talents. Yes, it is possible to live in a chaotic world of differing cultural and generational agendas. Hancock did it!

All the same, Hancock did have to go to a self-imposed prison, desperate to learn some sort of control in order to effectively operate as a contributor to society. It wasn’t easy. The learning process never is. But what Hancock left with was empathy. Empathy for those around him. We’ve all been exposed to sympathy. But empathy? The ability to step into someone else’s shoes?

With his powers now focused and far more streamlined, Hancock’s next dilemma comes when he encounters someone just like him. Through Mary’s instruction, Hancock learns that this partnership will eventually destroy him. Much like what happens when we desire to only be around those who think like we do. Are we really contributing or are we simply looking for a safe place to be? Perhaps learning to live as individuals while at the same time benefiting the group as a whole IS the best course of action to take. Doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, but then nothing in this world ever seems to. We all might as well be superheroes, crackpots, and a**holes!

And perhaps that is the final message delivered throughout the final scenes of Hancock. Frustrated as individuals, mortal and falling apart as a whole. We are all one big Justice League with superpowers all our own. Why not learn to respect another’s as much as we respect our own?

We’ll live forever with a big red heart on the moon that way.