I don't know how this film slipped past my consciousness. I only vaguely remember seeing the advertisements for it, and I absolutely don't remember seeing it listed on any theater displays. So the only reason that I picked it up at the local Blockbuster was because the Grouchmate (my wife) happened to see the poster hanging in the Blockbuster window while she was on her way to the supermercado.

Now I just happen to like Will Smith's persona, despite his rather disappointing last film, "I Am Legend", so I figured "why not?". So while I was busy picking out videos for the Thanksgiving weekend (I took a five day vacation from Wednesday To Sunday) I chose the three "Godfather" videos, "Tropic Thunder", and "Hellboy II", for my own edification, and "Hancock" for the Grouchmate.

But, as usually happens around Grouch Palace, there were numerous other distractions, such as shopping on "Black Friday"and general shopping the rest of the weekend, so it wasn't until Tuesday that we got a chance to watch the film.

I won't dwell too much on the plot other than to say that it had twists and turns that kept me guessing, and ended in a way I wasn't really expecting. But, rather, I'd like to comment on the themes in the story.

First, a bit of personal history. I grew up in a home where both parents were alcoholics, in a neighborhood where a number of families were on welfare. My father was a non entity, passing through the home only briefly and leaving my mother to raise four kids on her own.

So, why is this important? Well, because such an upbringing can imprint a child with a pattern for living that results in a duplication of the parental example. And in my family this was realized. One brother became a drug user and alcoholic, entering the Army at the height of the Viet Nam conflict, and struggling with sobriety for years after. My sister became an unwed mother, having two children and living on welfare, and my youngest brother landed in prison twice and struggles with addiction to this day.

All I did was join a religious cult that chewed me up and spit me out thousands of miles from home. And therein lay my redemption. Without the same influences, and with a newfound faith in God, I was able to rise above the bad examples and become a productive member of society.

How does this relate to the movie? Here's what I saw: Hancock was a drunken amnesiac, having no knowledge of his real name or where he came from, left to fend for himself, burdened with super powers and the expectations of society that he use those powers in a certain way. But, when he failed to do as he was expected he became an outcast, but an outcast who was still expected to perform. What he needed was a change of heart, purpose, and a means of attaining salvation.

"Hancock" is about his redemption and someone who believed in him. In the movie he found this person, and in the process he also discovered his past, his purpose, and who he really was. But the biggest challenge he faced was how to live with this newfound knowledge, AND the knowledge that he was not alone, that there was someone else who shared his unique abilities and destiny. In the process Hancock is faced with a decision to give his life for another or to keep his own while watching another die.

Redemption requires that a person reevaluate their own purpose in life, to change their way of living and the direction that life should take. It requires that a person believe that past influence have no stranglehold on the future by keeping one's vision firmly focused on the destination.

For me, as a Christian, this movie reminded me that my own future is assured, despite the pull of my past upbringing, despite genetics, and despite the expectations of others. Because of the one Person who believed in me and offered a way of escape from my dismal makeup I now have a new vision of the future. MY decision to trust Christ for my salvation raised me out of the trap of expectations and gave me a new life.

Now, although "Hancock" was very entertaining, I don't attribute any powers of salvation to it. It was just a good flick, unexpectedly good, and deserves to be seen. It is the subtle reminder that I received on watching it that made it worthwhile for me. I hope it does thae same for you.