Reviewer's grade: D+

Los Angeles-based heroic crime fighter "Hancock" is bitter, drunk and all but washed-up. Only occasionally does Hancock (Will Smith "I Am Legend," "The Pursuit of Happyness") wake from his stupor, stumble through the air and attempt to save the day. And when he does, he ends up causing more damage than good.

But when Hancock saves the life of a idealistic public-relations expert Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman, "Juno") who is hell-bent on making the world a better place, the once-super superhero finally commits to cleaning up his act and lets Embrey repay his debt with a little media training and public-engagement coaching.

While sort of a funny premise for a superhero movie, Smith doesn't have the charm or charisma to convince. The always-enjoyable Bateman is perfectly cast, but it's sad to see him star in such a cinematic sinkhole. His hilarious delivery, dialogue approach and timing are just absorbed by the vacuous performance of both Smith and the lifeless Charlize Theron, who plays Embrey's wife and comes across as boring as she is blonde. PG-13

"”Joe Wertz