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The upcoming Summer release, Hancock, starring Will Smith, Jason Bateman and Charlize Theron, will be treading ground that has been well trod in the past - and not always to great success: Super Heroes and comedy. However, this film has at least a couple of things going for it; First off, it is a Will Smith project, and he has a solid track record of delivering box office success by delivering an entertaining experience to his target audiences. Second, and maybe of more interest to the critic in me, is the movie’s exploration of the themes of redemption, personal responsibility and accountability - although on a much more heroic scale.
Albeit a comedy, with Hancock the movie Will Smith and company take a look at just how much the general public is willing to put up with from their ‘heroes’. By presenting a largely unsympathetic character ( a homeless alcoholic with little regard
for the costly property damage and disruption he has been causing to his city, Los Angeles), and putting him through the public wringer, the filmmakers will possibly be giving their Summer popcorn-crunching audiences an unexpected (yet subtle) lesson about the individual’s responsibility to their own community.