Hancock Review

In the past four years, Peter Berg has directed three productions, starred in three other films, and served as an executive producer of NBC’s critical darling “Friday Night Lights.”

He’s also found time to make sci-fi admirer’s happy by signing on to direct a “Dune” remake. Peter Berg’s latest film being “Hancock” was also a great hit featuring Will Smith as the man character playing the hard drinking, Los Angeles type superhero, who everyone described in Los Angeles as an A-hole.

The hard hitting fantasy action film consists of a kind character by the name of Ray Embrey played by Jason Bateman who sees Hancock (Will Smith) as a lonely and insecure person who needs to create a better image for him and the public. So far he gets abused and hounded by the people of Los Angeles. Hancock comes into contact with his saviour Ray Embrey when he rescues Ray by throwing his car out the way of an oncoming train, but this is not the end as Hancock doesn’t move causing the train to crash and tip over. The Los Angeles public is disgusted and starts to abuse Hancock again until Ray stands in and says thank you for being rescued. This is where Hancock as a super hero starts to improve all thanks to Ray who is mentoring and teaching him the best way to be a superhero. This carries on throughout the film until Hancock meets Ray’s wife who is played by Charlize Theron who ends up being just like Hancock. Mary (Charlize Theron) starts to explain to Hancock that there used to be many people like them but they have all died off. She then breaks it to Ray and Hancock that she is actually married to Hancock which is a great shock to both characters. The film ends with Hancock and Mary being close to death. This is when Hancock runs and gets as far away from Mary as possible so he gets his powers back, and therefore Mary will too, finishing the story with a happy ending. Hancock has his powers back and is respected by the people of Los Angeles. Mary has her powers back and is living a life with Ray and his son ending the film on a high note.

There is a lot to admire about this film starting with the great story line of a hard-drinking superhero which most people can imagine, therefore giving it the extra factor. As well as the genre of fantasy it follows all the way through by showing the superpowers of Hancock and Mary, there was also a great amount of action and drama throughout the film. The best part of the film was the twist towards the end when we find out that Ray Embrey’s wife is actually Hancock’s wife but to top that crazy twist Mary Embrey holds the same powers as Hancock. So both Mary Embrey portrayed as a normal living human being has now become a superhero with the powers of immortality, the ability to fly as well as superhuman strength, and automatic healing. The new and improved Hancock is astounded but cannot figure out how until Mary explains how there used to be lots like Hancock but have all died, this is because they were designed in pairs so they were attracted but the closer they get to each other the become more like human beings ending up losing all their powers and eventually dying like all other humans.

The negatives of the film was that Hancock and the Los Angeles citizens language was vulgar and disgusting the rating was definitely greater than any PG-13 movie I think I have ever seen. In the first few scenes there was nearly 30 obscene words probably more coming from the mouth of not only adults but young children. There is also a diabolical scene when Hancock shove a man’s head up another man’s rear end, this is not showing young children the right way to act and is discomforting to the older generation. Apart from the vulgar language and the other incident, the film was excellent with a great ending.

The film was excellent but I think the rating of a PG-13 was very low compared to the language and some atrocious scenes I believe it should have been rated 15 as the image the film is creating is not good for children or adults. But forgetting the language and atrocious scenes Peter Berg has directed a superb film. Starting with the hard drinking super hero to a new and improved Los Angeles type super hero all thanks to Ray Embrey who showed some kind willing and decided to help John Hancock after his rescue.