SINGAPORE : A superhero who doesn’t give a rat’s ass. It’s a refreshing concept, especially when the character is played by Will Smith, the legend-in-black who is better known for his pursuit of happyness.

The ho-hum thing with most other superheroes is that they always start out as righteous, good people who are raring to do good and save the world in their ridiculous unitards and masks, exposing their undies but never their real identities.

Hancock (Smith), on the other hand, hasn’t a care for his public image whatsoever — his ratty tee-and-bermudas ensemble makes his uniform; his acerbic insults take the place of PR speak; any attempt to save the day results in the reckless destruction of public property.

That’s on top of the fact that he boozes all day and passes out on street benches. He’s a real super a-hole. People hate him so much they celebrate when he’s carted off to jail.

Ray (Jason Bateman), a PR guy with a heart of gold whose life Hancock has saved, is less myopic and predicts that prison is exactly what the misanthropic superhero needs — when crime rates soar, the people will want him back. He’s right, of course, and Hancock is given an “early release” — not to mention a fashion makeover — to save the day from a group of trigger-happy bank robbers.

Hancock tricks you into thinking it’s cruising along towards the conventional, but the action-adventure-comedy has a few surprises up its sleeves — one of which has to do with Ray’s gorgeous wife, Mary (Charlize Theron), whom Hancock takes a fancy to as soon as he meets her. We shall say no more, but take it from Theron herself. She recently told the press: “It’s dark sh*t, really f***ing original and I’m excited about it.”

You should be, too. - TODAY/ra