Hancock

Hancock habe ich ohne zögern **** gegeben. Immerhin hat er fast alles, was zu einer ordentlichen Comicverfilmung gehört – und außerdem kann vor allem deshalb, weil der Drehbuchschreiber zwei sind, nicht einmal David Copperfield die Handlung voraussehen! Und was das Ende angeht, so hat eine der letzten Szenen, in der der spitzenmäßige Titel Death and Transfiguration gespielt wird, meine Augen angenehm angefeuchtet … (23.03.2009)

Eine großartige Action, ausgezeichnete Witze, Emotionen, ein starkes Liebesmotiv, der coole Will Smith, die blonde Charlize Theron in schwarzen Stiefeln… Und alles geht ins Leere, als ob es sich nur um irgendein Déjà-vu handeln würde. Das potenziell hervorragende und überwältigende Crossover von Last Boy Scout und X-Men hat sich als die wahrscheinlich leerste Marketing-Blase des Jahres 2008 entpuppt. Beziehungsweise als eine effektvolle Pilotfolge einer nicht existierenden Serie. (14.07.2008)

At the moment when Berg's fans started to curse their idol for what he presents to them, I finally understand him for the first time. A classic and at the same time anti-comic spectacle, from which enthusiasm can be felt from miles away, Smith enjoys unlimited space and humor and action surpass my boldest expectations. The surprise of 2008 and my favorite Smith. (24.10.2008)

Judging by the trailers, I expected an action flick full of foul-mouthed wisecracks and instead got the story of an alienated hero undergoing rehabilitation. Hancock reminds me of Smith's I Am Legend — both have incredible potential, but instead of using it, they take a different track. Not completely bad, just not as good. Fortunately, Will Smith is such an experienced actor that a lot of people will enjoy the film thanks to him, but the connoisseur will always find something lacking in the drunkard next door. Maybe this is the result of a rewrite of the script or retakes, but it doesn’t quite work. As for the rest of the acting ensemble, Charlize Theron is breathtaking and Jason Bateman is endearingly obsessed with the desire to save the world (I think he pulled off an even better performance than the great Will) and Michael Mann has an incredible funny cameo. A low four stars. (31.07.2008)

Peter Berg is the second director this year who hasn't received much help from Will Smith. Smith is clearly a magnet for stupid screenwriters and overzealous scissors-wielding producers, as Francis Lawrence could certainly tell us. Even Jumper should envy Hancock's genre-hopping, but unlike Doug Liman, Berg was drowned by the seriousness of the subject matter, which changed its image at the last minute into a summer blockbuster. Michael Mann wasn’t helpful either, although Berg handles the action brilliantly (my late wish that he would have made the third X-Men) and Jason Bateman ramps up his comedic talents even more. The twist in the middle was a bit expected, and unfortunately, so was the ending with the spilled syrup effect. I’d give the film about 50%. It gets bonus points for the briskness and the fact (spoiler!) that Charlize is the absolute sexiest superhero in recent years, but that's actually to be expected after Aeon Flux. Actually, we could have expected quite a lot from this... (21.07.2008)