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- Movie Review: Hancock
Movie Review: Hancock
- By Dave Urbanski
- Published 07/8/2008
- Movie Reviews
- Unrated
Dave Urbanski
Dave Urbanski is author of The Man Comes Around: The Spiritual Journey of Johnny Cash (Relevant Books), senior developmental editor for Youth Specialties, and writes about music, film, and culture for several publications.
View all articles by Dave UrbanskiPG-13, 92 min.
Will Smith plays a modern-day superhero who’s immortal and invincible (well, 99.99 percent of the time—hey, even Superman was dogged by Kryptonite). The problem is that Hancock is a surly, depressed drunk who causes so much property damage and general mayhem while doing in the bad guys around Los Angeles that the citizenry and head honchos no longer want Hancock around. (Not unlike “Dirty Harry” on ginseng, steroids, and Cutty Sark.)
As you might expect, Hancock also could care less about adopting a mild-mannered alter ego; no, it’s just him—undisguised, unkempt, unflattering, and unfriendly. But after Hancock saves a nice PR guy, Ray (Jason Bateman), from certain damage at the hands of a locomotive, Ray offers to spiff up the superhero’s image. Then when Hancock meets Ray’s wife, Mary (Charlize Theron), there’s an immediate, curious connection between the two—not lascivious ... just an I-think-I’ve-seen-you-somewhere-before deal. (They have—but saying more will spoil the plot.)
Once Hancock starts getting on the right track, he reveals to Ray and Mary that while he knows he’s immortal and ageless, he remembers nothing about his life before heading out to watch the just-released Frankenstein movie (circa 1931)—i.e., he’s had no real connection to anybody in more than 75 years. Which better explains his surliness, drinking, and depression.
Then, just when you thought things were falling into place and all would be peachy in the City of Angels … well, stuff gets more complex.
Hancock’s search for meaning in life could fit well into a discussion on reaching out to others who’re searching for meaning in life themselves. His quest to figure out where he came from can underscore the importance of knowing our spiritual heritage and who we are in Christ.
The connection between Mary and Hancock is rife with spiritual-relational object lessons, too. Without giving away plot elements, once you get what’s happening between the two, you could hold some pretty interesting discussions on self-sacrifice for the greater good, laying down your life for a friend, the hard choices involved when duty and mission are involved, and accepting God’s will, among others.
You may elect to take your students to see Hancock in theaters—although with its top-of-the-heap $107.3 million it garnered at the box office over the July 4 weekend, chances are many of them have seen it already—do so with some caution, as there’s quite a bit of violence and a fair share of swear words uttered. Beyond that, know that when big questions finally start getting answered by the end of the movie, the plot accelerates greatly and leaves a ton more questions unanswered—but this shortcoming could prove an interesting discussion starter all on its own.
As you might expect, Hancock also could care less about adopting a mild-mannered alter ego; no, it’s just him—undisguised, unkempt, unflattering, and unfriendly. But after Hancock saves a nice PR guy, Ray (Jason Bateman), from certain damage at the hands of a locomotive, Ray offers to spiff up the superhero’s image. Then when Hancock meets Ray’s wife, Mary (Charlize Theron), there’s an immediate, curious connection between the two—not lascivious ... just an I-think-I’ve-seen-you-somewhere-before deal. (They have—but saying more will spoil the plot.)
Once Hancock starts getting on the right track, he reveals to Ray and Mary that while he knows he’s immortal and ageless, he remembers nothing about his life before heading out to watch the just-released Frankenstein movie (circa 1931)—i.e., he’s had no real connection to anybody in more than 75 years. Which better explains his surliness, drinking, and depression.
Then, just when you thought things were falling into place and all would be peachy in the City of Angels … well, stuff gets more complex.
Hancock’s search for meaning in life could fit well into a discussion on reaching out to others who’re searching for meaning in life themselves. His quest to figure out where he came from can underscore the importance of knowing our spiritual heritage and who we are in Christ.
The connection between Mary and Hancock is rife with spiritual-relational object lessons, too. Without giving away plot elements, once you get what’s happening between the two, you could hold some pretty interesting discussions on self-sacrifice for the greater good, laying down your life for a friend, the hard choices involved when duty and mission are involved, and accepting God’s will, among others.
You may elect to take your students to see Hancock in theaters—although with its top-of-the-heap $107.3 million it garnered at the box office over the July 4 weekend, chances are many of them have seen it already—do so with some caution, as there’s quite a bit of violence and a fair share of swear words uttered. Beyond that, know that when big questions finally start getting answered by the end of the movie, the plot accelerates greatly and leaves a ton more questions unanswered—but this shortcoming could prove an interesting discussion starter all on its own.
