Hancock, the latest superhero movie, has a great cast, good idea, but ends up being mediocre without a reason you can put your finger on. It appears that director Peter Berg did not efficiently use the tremendous resources at his disposal, both human and financial.

Will Smith plays the self-destructive, anti-hero Hancock in a movie that features a sneaky plot disclosure to put a fresh spin on its storyline. Alcoholic and, of course, hangovered Hancock does not remember much of his past as he goes about interfering in arbitrary crimes and accidents with a disregard that has won him a hand full of supporters around Los Angeles. The stunning Charlize Theron turns out to be a closeted super-hero as well.

The mere idea of an alcoholic superhero is great and somewhat original, but it's not being fully exploited. The emotional interaction between him and Charlize Theron, who plays the wife of a guy he saves, is not done very well although it highlights the highlights the potential of both actors, especially that of Smith.

While the movie’s beginning is very powerful and catchy, as the action continues, things get more complicated, not in a good way. The film fails to keep the line it appeared to draw in the largely amusing first half by letting off logic and piling on more chaotically, inappropriate plot turns. It seems that no actor can really make a B movie turn into an A movie. It's just going to be a better B movie.

Overall, after two superhero movies, "The Incredible Hulk" and "Iron Man," the flick is just not that interesting anymore.

“Hancock”

Directed by Peter Berg
Written by Vincent Ngo and Vince Gilligan
Starring: Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman
Running time: 92 minutes
Release Date: July 2 2008
Rated PG-13 (for some intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence and language)