Will Smith as a drunk superhero who needs to be rebranded and rehabilitated by Jason Bateman? The possibilities for a great film were endless, and yet Hancock - based on an original script that had been doing the rounds in Hollywood for years - is one of the most bewildering blockbusters to have ever been conceived. Tone confused and completely wasted in its failure to make the most of its premise, it's a genuine, bonafide curiosity. On paper, then, Hancock looked set for greatness. With Hollywood's best and most likeable star at its centre, a great story, and a cast of brilliant supporting actors, where could it go wrong? The strangest thing about Hancock is that it is a largely humourless movie, and one that would have played better with a sense of fun. Instead, it's kind of depressing and negative. And the weird, mid-film twist is so terrible that it will make you want to scream.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
