Hancock 2008- Peter Berg

Hancock 2008- Peter Berg

Hancock can be seen as a film with a morale to the story, in the sense that the protagonist, Hancock, an initially; rude, scruffy and mess causing hero, attempts to turn his life around and do some good in the city of Los Angeles, where he lives.  

Hancock differs from a typical superhero film.One obvious factor that steps it away from superhero movies is Berg’s use of a black protagonist. This has been a trait in a select few of Berg’s film. The protagonist himself also steps away from a typical superhero protagonist. His first instinct isn’t the fact that he can use his powers for good, until Ray proves him otherwise. Instead of fighting enemies and doing good for the world, he focuses on himself and making himself a better person, for the benefit of himself and the people around him as his powers leave destruction behind. The film focuses on the superhero more as a person, Berg shows the struggles that Hancock has to go through and almost breaks down his layers by putting him through jail, rediscovering his partner and his emotions. Rather than watching the public struggle under the enemy, you watch the superhero struggle with his own mental enemies.

Another way in which the film steps away from a typical superhero film is the relationship between Mary and Hancock. The audience might typically grasp at some kind of blossoming relationship between the two, but not in the way that Berg creates it. Hancock appears to have lived his life without knowing who or what he is, he believes he is the only one. The scene when Hancock discovers that Mary has powers leaves questions for the audience and allows them to create a foreshadow for themselves. Mary being able to use powers, foreshadows her role later on in the film. The fact that she hides her powers from her family and asks Hancock to not tell anyone can foreshadow her true strength as a superhero. Unlike Hancock where he is open about his powers, Mary has to hide hers due to the pure force she has.

Mary is another significant factor in stepping Hancock away from stereotypical superhero films. Berg presents her as a very powerful woman. She has control over two men, mentally and physical. Mary is not a stereotypical woman in love with the superhero. She knows the consequences of their love and the fact that it has to be forced. Hancock and Mary are opposites. She realises the human life and how peaceful and happy she can be with a “human” family. Hancock, on the other hand, has no other purpose in life without his powers. Mary accidentally comes into his life and she knows the consequences of them being near to each other. Hancock almost falls in love with Mary, until he realises she’s found her goal in life.