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Hancock

Comedy or existential drama?

By BRETT MICHEL | July 1, 2008

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: The Pursuit of Happyness, Crossword: ''Why the face?'', Legend of the last, More

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ARTICLES BY BRETT MICHEL

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Impossible Missions Force agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) returns to the screen in dramatic fashion as new teammate Jane (Paula Patton) and the returning Benji (Simon Pegg) break him out of a Russian prison.