Movie Review: "Hancock" (2008)

DISCLAIMER: This review may contain spoilers.

It's so amazing how much goes into making a movie. I mean, just any movie period. Even short films. Many people watch (and fall in love with) over-budgeted crap-fests like "Hancock" and don't have a single clue what kind of costs go into it.

Forget writing the script, how about planning the shots and what gets shot first and having to do multiple takes to back yourself up in the editing room? Nah, forget that. How about location scouting for scenes, then securing permits plus insurance for those locations, all of which... cost lots and lots of money.

For example, take that business conference room after the opening action scene in "Hancock". It's a simple business meeting scene in an expensive-looking conference room with a bunch of guys wearing expensive-looking suits, don't forget to throw in a bunch of expensive-looking LCD screens for the business presentation. How much do you think this scene cost in total? Aside from paying the actors, the wardrobe and set location alone must have cost enough to put an average person in debt.

My point is all that money and effort went into securing, planning, and lighting that damn small little scene... all for a stupid, lousy-written movie? What gives?

"Hancock" is one of those stupid, lousy-written movies I'm talking about. The idea does sound interesting on paper though -- A reckless superhero breaking the rules and doing things his way, causing chaos and unrest in the community. But what we get as the end result isn't as favorable as one may have liked.

Will Smith's portrayal of overconfidence in most of his movies is annoying at most times, especially in a movie like "Hancock". In few of his movies, it's a bit forgivable sometimes (i.e. "Hitch" and "Independence Day" to certain extents).

Don't get me wrong, he is very talented, more so than his kids, but he is best when he is given more human roles to deal with. "Six Degrees of Separation", "Ali", and "The Pursuit of Happyness" are good examples. No Mr. Big Shot Know-It-All Savior, thank you very much.

"Hancock" suffers from a serious case of 'I have millions of dollars and lots of computer effects, look at what I can get away with!'

This is evident within the first five minutes of the movie. A bunch of idiots firing guns on the road, CGI birds, CGI explosions, Will Smith flying around, CGI choppers... (singing) Oh I have a headache, thank you!

What sucks is that this is a big budget movie and it has some of the worst CGI ever. How much more sloppy can a film's special effects get? Even "Superman IV: The Quest for Peace" looks more passable than this.

Last but not least, the hip hop music really helps get me pumped in the opening five minutes. Yeah. Right.

What really bogs "Hancock" down is that it seriously lacks an interesting villain. There really aren't any here. The closest we get to one is during the MIDPOINT of film. Yes, you heard right, I said midpoint, how crazy is that for screenwriting?

This so-called villain happens to be the leader behind a random bank robbery in which Hancock sabotages. Hancock puts him behind bars and we don't see the bad guy again in the movie with exception of one scene in prison where he vows to escape and get revenge, then finally at the end of the film where he does escape and get his revenge. That's about it.

• So the solution to 'correct' Hancock's behavior is to put him in a regular maximum security prison? Don't they know he's a superhero and can break out at any time he pleases with little effort? They might as well admit him to one of those anger management resorts.