Hancock: A Superhero’s Identity Crisis
Hancock, portrayed by Will Smith, one of the finest actors of our time, is found sleeping on a park bench, clutching a bottle of whiskey. A kid approaches, kicks him, and urges him to wake up, informing him about a car chase. Hancock, in a hungover stupor, takes to the skies with a “VRRRRRRR!” He intercepts a car full of armed thugs and impales it on a spire, along with its occupants.
Following this opening, the movie unfolds with a few unexpected plot twists, culminating in a reasonably satisfying conclusion.
The organization responsible for assigning movie ratings in America had several concerns regarding “Hancock.” For instance, the superhero is depicted flying while intoxicated and parking carelessly, resulting in craters in the asphalt paid for with public funds, due to his invulnerability. Furthermore, the film features a scene where Charlize Theron is struck with a rolling pin. There were also rumors of other issues, possibly involving pedophilia, but the producers, in their ongoing battle with the rating agency, made compromises and removed those elements.
The Anarchist Superhero
However, the censors were primarily concerned with something else. At the beginning of the film, Hancock is portrayed as an ideal, ultra-powerful anarchist. He lives on a bench because it’s warm, and even if it were cold, it wouldn’t bother him. He seems to never bathe, but since he’s impervious to pain, he probably doesn’t experience itching or flea bites. He drinks heavily and likely suffers the same hangovers as ordinary mortals, but a true man shouldn’t fear suffering.
He also saves people, but his motives are unclear. After all, homeless people, especially those with strong convictions who could theoretically build themselves a home, pride themselves on their freedom from meaningless obligations. Why would an anarchist save people? Perhaps because he loves them?
The Transformation
Humanity, through the actions of a publicist, attempts to tame Hancock. This involves imposing meaningless complexes on the selfless superhero, forcing him to bathe, and dressing him in leather pants (because what superhero is complete without leather pants?). He’s even imprisoned so that psychoanalysts can study him in group therapy sessions, and possibly subject him to assaults by inmates. However, it’s difficult to imagine any kind of sex involving superheroes who can deflect bullets.
Humanity behaves like a nagging partner, and Hancock, like many men, complies and dons the leather attire, but the relationship doesn’t bring him happiness.
Will Smith’s Performance
What’s more intriguing is Will Smith’s performance. This incredibly handsome and talented actor is playing his second consecutive role as a Very Lonely Black Man, the Last Hero on Earth. He exudes the aristocracy befitting an ancient god (all superheroes were gods in the past, for those who didn’t realize), and previously displayed the aristocracy of a scientist and colonel-professor. One can only hope that he will one day play a genuine, unromanticized thug-bum.
He would undoubtedly excel at it.