Three things are almost certain to emerge every July 4 weekend: fireworks, hot dogs and Will Smith.

Yes, the King of the Summer Screen is back, and he's brought super powers with him in "Hancock."

Unfortunately, he left his plot at home in his other tights.

Smith stars as the title character -- a shamed, alcoholic superhero who, much like other heroes, is haunted by his predicament. He has no regard for damage to public property (in fact, he relishes smashing things). As a consequence, he's reviled rather than revered.

Things change, though, when Hancock saves PR man Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman) from getting hit by a train. Like Hancock, Ray is also trying to save the world, but in a much more benevolent (yet just as futile) manner, by trying to convince corporations to give away their products for the greater good.

Ray is grateful and wants to help the hero improve his image. Hancock, a bundle of depression and rage, isn't interested.

It's about at this point that the plot completely unravels and the movie changes gears. There's a stint in prison, a love triangle and the movie's main bad guy appears about halfway through the second act.

Then there's a plot twist, pulled from the bottom drawer in a desk of the Office of Hollywood's Oldest Contrivances, in which a character reveals something about his/herself for no good reason.

The twist changes the thrust of the film, and everything that happened up to that point becomes irrelevant.

The rest of the movie is clumsy, convoluted backstory that requires the film to take on a more serious dramatic tone rather than build action-adventure tension. As such, it falls prey to the very cliches it's lampooning.

As a character, Hancock is wholly unlikable. Where Smith is usually charming, here he comes off as an apathetic jerk. The filmmakers, including director Peter Berg ("The Kingdom"), eschew characterization, instead relying on Smith's star power.

Bateman's comedic power is reined in as well. While he has some moments, he's not allowed to cut loose. His banter with Smith could have been much funnier.

"Hancock" just might be the movie that shows Will Smith is no summertime Superman.

Movie Details

2 stars (out of five)

In a word: Incoherent.

Rated: PG-13.

Running time: 92 min.

Starring: Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman.

Director: Peter Berg.