Hollywood superstar Will Smith takes the title role in this blockbuster about a superhero battling booze and hated by his public.

Most things Smith has touched recently have turned to gold – think I am Legend and The Pursuit of Happyness.

But this is a challenging movie, even for one of the world's most popular men – playing a superhero who at first glance has everything, but is despised by the public, an alcoholic and basically out of control.

It is an interesting idea though. Why would the world-famous Hancock, who can fly at supersonic speed, lift any weight and is impervious to all weapons, not be on top of the world?

The problem is he means well, but his drunken recklessness invariably causes more damage than it's worth.

Although valuable to the police, Hancock has a bad name with the public for his destructiveness, impudence and all-around bad attitude.

The public has finally had enough – as grateful as they are to have their local hero, the good citizens of Los Angeles are wondering what they ever did to deserve this guy.

Hancock isn't the kind of man who cares what other people think – until the day that he saves the life of PR executive Ray Embrey, and the sardonic superhero begins to realise that he may have a vulnerable side after all.

The film has a vulnerable side too. It is a potentially brilliant witty black comedy.

But the main problem is that the film wants the best of both worlds, to be a superhero story like Superman whilst show the characters are human-size with human emotions.

It needed to go one way or the other, but it doesn't stick its neck out on the line.

People will go and see this for the main attraction though – Will Smith.
And Hancock may serve as a test for the real power of Smith at the box office: If he can sell this movie to the world, then he can sell any movie and truly earn his status as Hollywood's most forceful star.