2) Hancock (2008) (Dir. Peter Berg)
What We Thought Before: What a great idea! Will Smith – playing an invincible superhero who doesn’t give a shit about humanity and just wants to laze about all day and drink – must be rehabilitated by PR guy Jason Bateman. The potential for great action sequences, comedy moments and plain old fun are endless. Get me a ticket to this thing.
What We Got: Tone-confused and nasty, Hancock completely fails to realize the potential of its premise and instead shifts itself into bizarre plot-twist territory that only serves to spoil the fun. Will Smith even lacks his usual charisma due to a script that refuses to play ball with its actors. And although it starts out better than it ends up, Peter Berg’s film never feels comfortable with itself. Here’s to the brilliant anti-superhero movie that never was.
What They Should Have Done: Settled on a tone and simply made it funnier. It’s rare that a Will Smith vehicle will make you feel so down in the dumps, but Hancock emerged as the feel bad movie of the year.
Redeeming Features: Jason Bateman, likeable as always.