Will Smith is Hotness

I saw Hancock this afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed myself. This summer Hancock joins fellow superheroes - The Hulk, Iron Man, and Batman as they attempt to repackage patriotism for a cynical, savvy generation; a generation at war and in recession, but nonetheless optimistic. A black president? How about a black superhero to test the waters? Hancock is a worthwhile addition to the summer blockbuster list because it is at once satirical, sincere, charming and action-packed. The original and artfully shot and staged narrative is punctuated by wham-bam special effects -- allowing the film to work on two levels. On one, it's about a disgruntled superhero (and what movie this summer isn't?). Will Smith, like The Incredibles of 2004, is living in a post-fantasy era where the superhero has grown old and fallen out of favor due --(no surprise)-- to the economic toll he takes, and the homeland security risk he poses as a vigilante who reports to something other than the law. That's a theme this summer -- the fine line between lawful and corrupt, good and evil, Us and Them. The second level on which Hancock works -- the level that distinguishes this movie from the others -- is as a haunting, somewhat underdeveloped but very compelling drama about love. The complexity and power of love, the almost supernatural way that it both weakens and strengthens humans (and superhumans), and the way it transcends time, race, power, and reality -- all are addressed here more than in Iron Man or The Hulk. The movie, in ways I can't quite put my finger on, reminds me of some off-beat hits like Eternal Sunshine, Crash, and 21 Grams. Weird, I know, but the characters teeter on the edge of great depth. Charlize Theron is the surprise star of this movie. Jason Bateman is wonderful as the 'real-life' but under-funded hero, and Will Smith's performance is a sweet blend of Ali-style angst and Men in Black charm. He pulls the movie together with his irreverent humor and sensitivity. The movie is short, but rewarding. It feels complete but maybe too heady for its time and place among the other summer hero movies. I hope people give it a chance -- and I hope you, Will Charles, will see it before you continue to bash it! On the topic of superheroes, if you're in the mood for more noir crime-fighters, check out Showtime's Dexter.