Hancock Starring Will Smith

The Super Hero as a Misanthropic Drunk

Hancock, starring Will Smith as the title character, has as its premise the following: What if Superman was a misanthropic drunk with a bad fashion sense and a sack full of issues who cared nothing about what the people he saved thought of him?

The movie begins with Hancock passed out on a park bench after another drinking binge and the Los Angeles freeways the scene of a high speed police chase/gun fight. Hancock bestirs himself and drunkenly flies (which in itself is something to behold) to the scene of the crime, smashing through freeway signs, causing mayhem wherever he goes. He stops the fleeing criminals, along with causing dozens of wrecked cars full of collateral damage.

Enter Ray Embrey, played by Jason Baterman, who seems to be the worse PR flack in the world. Public relations seems to be a cover for him to suborn Corporate America into doing good beyond the making of money by selling goods and services. Most companies have charities with which they use as a vehicle for advertising ("Engulf and Devour Inc.: Because We Care"), but Ray seems very inept in selling the idea to a potential pharmaceutical client.

In any event, Ray finds himself in a traffic jam astride some railroad tracks with a train headed in his direction and with no ability to move forward or back. It's Hancock to the rescue again, saving Ray's life, but at the expense of a wrecked train, several wrecked cars, and a crowd of annoyed Angelino commuters.

Ray thinks he has found his calling. It is apparent that Hancock has not had, in his formative years, an Uncle Ben or Pa Kent to teach him that with great power goes great responsibility/ If Ray can make Hancock into the sort of super hero that he should be, one who can save people without ticking them off, it would be the greatest public relations coup in history.

So Ray invites Hancock home to dinner and puts his idea to him. It will involve Hancock turning himself in to serve a prison sentence for his various acts of mayhem and destruction. It should not be for long, for with Hancock out of the way, crime should soar and the good people of LA should come to appreciate what an asset to the community Hancock can be.