I do not understand the confusion surrounding Hancock. I did not see/sense/feel a change in tone at any point during the film. I did not feel the film “get darker” as it progressed. In fact, both
and I predicted a much darker ending. We didn’t get it, but we were both happy with the results. I didn’t feel the reveal was over-the-top or ill-fitting. It made perfect sense to me. I guess I’m a mutant. It’s a great and tragic love story worthy of the pages of a Marvel comic. I was highly pleased and even choked up at the end.
I liked Hellboy and predicted I would also like Hellboy 2. The film begins with a brilliant bed-time story about the end of the world. It charmed me right off the top. I can honestly say that those seven or so minutes bought off any sins the rest of the movie may have had. Fortunately, it had none. Demonstrating a key understanding of what makes faerie tales work, Del Toro and Mignola created a post-modern story that fits right in with a great tradition of faerie tales. I was giddy all the way through.
Both Hancock and Hellboy 2 are worth your consideration.