New Movies for the Independence Day Wknd.

Written by Sean McBride

Wednesday, 02 July 2008

They call Will Smith “Mr. 4th of July,” because the guy is box office gold when he releases films on Independence Day. And he’s got another winner in the form of “Hancock.” Smith stars as a superhero with amnesia, who despite his super strength and the ability to fly, still lives the life of a hobo on the streets of Los Angeles. He spends as much time getting drunk as he does fighting crime. Things change when Hancock saves the life of a publicity agent who decides to help the superhero rehabilitate his image. The PR guy sees great good in Hancock, although his wife would rather see the alcoholic superhero fly off into the night and leave her family alone.  I'll stop here with the plot description, because just as Hancock seems to be on the verge of getting his act together, things take a radical twist in story and tone that nearly derails the film entirely. We also get an improbable supervillain and an erratic tone that's too harsh for family audiences and too juvenile for adults seeking grown up thrills.  The bottom line, of course, is Will Smith who carries the film and salvages things even while the story falls apart all around him. The guy has charisma to burn, and he makes Hancock work despite the film’s problematic ending.  Nothing all that special on home DVD, although the political thriller “Vantage Point,” does have enough good points to make it worth your time to check it out. And that’s what’s new in theaters this week, I’m Sean McBride the movie guy for Newscenter 25.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 02 July 2008 )