Superhero movies are on an uptick. Along with the comic book adaptations like 'Spider-Man,' 'Superman' and 'The Fantastic Four,' there's a new generation of movies featuring these characters with secret powers living among us.

''Unbreakable' - M. Night Shyamalan's drama about a guy who doesn't know he's a superhero. The Incredibles' -- Pixar's animated adventure about a superhero family. Plus recent movies like 'Sky High' and 'My Super Ex-Girlfriend' center around more sit-com style situations.

So many movies in fact, that 'Superhero Movie' was released earlier this year spoofing the genre.

This summer, along side 'The Incredible Hulk,' 'Iron Man,' 'The Dark Knight' and 'Hellboy II,' we get the part-comedy, part-drama, part-confused, post-modern superhero movie 'Hancock,' starring the always affable and easy-to-watch Will Smith.

Enter down-on-his-luck PR Executive Ray Embrey [played very nicely by Jason Bateman - below left], who wants to take Hancock, polish up his image, get the citizens of Los Angeles to like him, and turn him into a bonafide Superhero. A win-win situation.

The villain is completely over-the-top and provides no real menace. Because of this, we care little about Hancock, Ray, or Mary, and are left with a bunch of high speed, frenetic action sequences.

Computer graphics are in full swing. Flying Hancock, crashing car chases, huge explosions, and lots of fights. Fights that leave lots of collateral damage. One battle takes place on the corner of Hollywood and Highland, and leaves millions of dollars of destruction.

This is a movie that has trouble figuring out what it wants to be. Is it a slapstick comedy in a cartoon world? Or a real situation with real people in a real setting? Even the camera work is a bit schizophrenic.

Ultimately, 'Hancock' is disappointing. It starts with a great, fresh premise, but then bumbles into a real snooze-fest. If it's worth waking up Hancock from his drunken stupor, isn't it worth giving him more to do than breaking up a bank robbery and messing with some Asian gang members?

I loved 'Hancock.' I don't know why I loved it so much. The script had problems, some of the acting was so-so, and certain things didn't make sense. The movie just clicked for me, and hit a pace I liked. I cared about all the characters and what happened to them. Maybe it was the whole love story, but my hopeless romantic side adored it. I recommend it. : )

The story had some problems, but I like Will Smith and find him to be entertaining no matter what movie he's in. With 'Hancock' -- I found it to be overly violent -- and unnecessarily so. There was one graphic scene in the prison, that I could have really done without. It was so over-the-top gross, and really didn't fit with the rest of the movie.

Will Smith is fun to watch, and Jason Bateman was a nice surprise -- both good actors. Overall though, it's a miss. Rated PG-13 for some language and lots of action-based violence. It's not really worth the time.