So I saw 'Hancock'

On HBO. I meant to see it on the big screen when it was doing the rounds in movie houses here, but somehow I never got to it.

I always thought Hancock (2008) to be a comedy, or a movie about a comical action hero. After all, it stars Will Smith as the titular, burnt out, bottle tipping superhero. The movie's first third indeed starts out as per expectations as PR man Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman) sets out to change the public's opinion of Hancock, who is generally seen as an asshole, under the wary eyes of his too-hot-to-be-true wife Mary Embrey (Charlize Theron), who hates to see hubby getting hurt. But then the movie sidetracks and becomes less of a comedy than a drama. Funny man Smith becomes melancholy reincarnate Smith.

Darn sidetracking.

(Running time: 92 minutes)

So moi saw 'Seven Pounds'

In his movies, not unlike Adam Sandler, Will Smith plays either funny man or melancholy reincarnate; in Seven Pounds, throughout Seven Pounds, he's the latter. For reasons the story reveals in layers. Not too bad, but let's just say that I prefer the funny man Smith.

(Running time: 123 minutes)

So I saw 'I Am Legend'

Great premise, but the execution failed to live up to it. It could've been so much better given the story's potential. The flashbacks were rather annoying; the movie focused too much on the tribulation of Will Smith's character, which is what the film is perhaps about, and which is fine, but the delivery was wrong.

The story line should've been linear, starting from somewhere at the onset of the plague and go from there. I want to witness how Smith's character deteriorated along with everything else.

On the other hand, Smith's acting was powerful. I just loved the way he sang I Shot The Sheriff to accentuate his state of being on the brink of losing it. And then you have the man-dog bond. That about rescues this film from being forgettable.

(Running time: 101 minutes)