This last weekend I went along with Enigma to catch the latest Will Smith flick, Hancock. Prior to seeing the film I had become rather put off to the idea of actually sitting through it as a result of all the critics out there giving the film a brutal verbal shellacking. It appears that practically every critic out there who had their displeasure of viewing the film came to the same conclusions:

1) The film used too much profane language.
2) The first half of the film was somewhat enjoyable.
3) The second half of the film was terrible.
4) The twist in the film was either confusing, irritating, or just plain stupid.

Given these perspectives the idea of watching the film was not a good one for me. In fact the only reason I attended the film was due to the fact that we were taking a friend’s son to see the film. Don’t lambast me just yet, he’s 13 years old. So why do I bring up the critics? Simply put, they are morons. I realize I am playing the role of critic in this tiny write up, and I understand the perceived hypocrisy of it as well in the view of my statement, but that does not change the fact that it is true.

Consider this for a moment: what experience do film critics have that empowers them with the ability to tell a good film from a bad one? Have they made films themselves? Produced? Directed? Written? Had a bit part in a B rated film? Perhaps the critic was a fluffer in an eastern block puppy porn. If you look at the “experience” of these guys you will quickly note that they lack any at all. The only thing they have is that they are avid film goers, and I can only conclude that they are because they are in fact paid to be so.

I enjoyed Hancock quite a bit more than I expected that I would. As I sat there, the movie unrolling in front of me, with Will Smith on the glorious screen, head cocked to the side in one of his many poses that indicated just how much his character hates his situation and I realized something: What movie were these critics expecting to see? This was not Superman. This was not the X-Men. This was not Spiderman. This film was about an anti hero persona coming to grips with the world around him and trying to be accepted into it. That’s it, no charades. How is that so difficult to wrap your brain around?

Regarding the acting  – at one point Charlize Theron looks at Will Smith’s character and without saying a word, she delivers a look that was one of the best acting jobs I have seen in years – you could tell that she recognized him more than a passing fancy from a television. She knew this man. I mention that because I had heard that some critics thought the acting was blasé. Furthermore, and I am not a Charlize fan, I thought both her acting and good looks were stunning. I take my hat off to you Lady.

In the future I plan to totally ignore all critics as they are collectively self righteous, indignant blow hards who go see an action filmd and criticize it for not being a drama or a comedy. They seem to have lost the purpose for films: Entertainment.