The Phoenix Network:
The Phoenix
Boston
|
Portland
|
Providence
Stuff@Night
WFNX
Live Radio
|
On Demand
Adult
About
|
Advertise
Moonsigns
|
Band Guide
|
Blogs
|
In Pictures
Movies
Features
|
Reviews
Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
Kit Kittredge: An American Girl
Reviews
Hancock
Comedy or existential drama?
By
BRETT MICHEL
|
July 1, 2008
HANCOCK
" alt="photo of 'HANCOCK'">
1.5
Stars
Peter Berg is suffering from an identity crisis. Is he an actor? (See:
The Kingdom
.) A director? (See: well . . .
The Kingdom
.) Maybe not the best person with whom to entrust a Will Smith blockbuster. Berg’s latest, which suffers from a major identity crisis midway through, could be the biggest test of Smith’s ability to open a summer “tent-pole” picture since 1999’s equally addled
The Wild Wild West
. Is it a comedy? An existential drama? Smith plays John Hancock, superbeing and amnesiac. Known less for the crimes he prevents than for the property damage he causes, this drunken, surly “hero” ignores a warrant for his arrest until he saves the life of a naive publicist (Jason Bateman) who despite the better judgment of his wife (Charlize Theron) takes him on as a reclamation project. Will jail time reshape Hancock’s public image? What will restore Smith’s?
92 minutes | Boston Common + Fenway + Fresh Pond + Circle + Suburbs
Related
:
Legend of the last
It all comes down to Will power
The Pursuit of Happyness
A career-capping performance for Smith
The Kingdom
Let the carnage begin!
More
Legend of the last
It all comes down to Will power
The Pursuit of Happyness
A career-capping performance for Smith
The Kingdom
Let the carnage begin!
Last man standing
Once a cautionary tale about human folly, has the doomsday myth become just more fun and games?
Crossword: ''Why the face?''
And why does it never change?
Shaggy frog
Interview: Michel Gondry goes lo-fi
Home for dinner
Dorchester’s ‘tough guy’ grows up
23 skidoo?
The Boston Film Festival: work in progress
Lucky strike
Jason Reitman starts smoking
Non-starter
Opening night at the 23rd Boston Film Festival
Less
Topics
:
Reviews
,
Will Smith
,
Peter Berg
,
John Hancock
,
More
,
Will Smith
,
Peter Berg
,
John Hancock
,
Celebrity News
,
Entertainment
,
Movie Stars
,
Charlize Theron
,
Jason Bateman
,
Less
Share
:
Rss
Email
Print
Comments
Add a Comment
Today's Event Picks
[FILM]
NEWMAN’S OWN: “TRIBUTE TO PAUL NEWMAN”
Plus 1 more >>
ARTICLES BY BRETT MICHEL
IN THE REALM OF OSHIMA
| December 02, 2008
The HFA looks back at the bad boy of Japanese cinema
FOUR CHRISTMASES
| November 25, 2008
Tests the audiences' tolerance of grim cheer
DROWNING IN A SEA OF RED
| November 07, 2008
Seeing Saw
MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA
| November 05, 2008
An uninspired sit-com packed with Hollywood stars
PRIDE AND GLORY
| October 31, 2008
Overwrought, derivative police procedural
See all articles by:
BRETT MICHEL
MOST POPULAR
Most Viewed
Most Emailed
THE BIG HURT: THE YOUTUBE ANIME MYSTERY
What the hell is wrong with the Internet? Thorpe utterly fails to investigate . . .
VANISHING BOSTON
A field guide to Boston's 'lasting' treasures — to be enjoyed before they're razed in favor of chain stores
PS3, PLEASE
Resistance 2 deserves a shot
FAST-BREAKING MUSIC
You heard it here first
SCOTT WEILAND | “HAPPY” IN GALOSHES
Softdrive/New West (2008)
MEDICINE MEN
Two Boston poets use their art for the good of the tribe
A GAY DAY OFF
Striking Out
VANISHING BOSTON
A field guide to Boston's 'lasting' treasures — to be enjoyed before they're razed in favor of chain stores
GONGS WITH ROBOT
Gamelan Galak Tika does crossover
WINSOR DIM SUM CAFÉ
Dim sum all day and night
HOT TOPICS
Daniel Day-Lewis
,
Jack Black
,
Michael Clayton
,
Michael Haneke
,
Osama bin Laden
,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
,
Michael Jackson
,
Paris Hilton
,
Paul Thomas Anderson
,
Tommy Lee Jones
More Topics
. . .
LATEST SLIDESHOWS
Photos: Peter Simon's new book
Slideshow: Vanishing Boston
All Slideshows
Explore your Fantasies
Featured Articles in CD Reviews
:
The Fireman | Electric Arguments
88-Keys | The Death of Adam
Howlin’ Wolf | Rockin’ the Blues: Live In Germany, 1964
Darrell Katz/Jazz Composers Alliance Orchestra | The Same Thing
The Cure | 4:13 Dream
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
|
Sign In
|
Register
thePhoenix.com:
Home
Listings
Editor's Picks
News
Music
Film + TV
Food + Drink
Life
Arts
Rec Room
Video
Phoenix Media/Communications Group:
Boston Phoenix
Portland Phoenix
Providence Phoenix
StuffAtNight
People2People
MassWeb Printing
G8Wave
About Us
Contact Us
Advertise With Us
Work For Us
Sitemap
RSS
Mobile
TODAY'S FEATURED ADVERTISERS
Copyright © 2008 The Phoenix Media/Communications Group