Will Smith is this decade’s Harrison Ford.

The box office gold that Ford guaranteed during the ‘80s — and Tom Cruise in the ‘90s — has become the property of Smith. Not just anyone gets to open a film over the Independence Day week and not every film given that slot succeeds.

Then there are movies that are “guaranteed gold” that look like they might fizzle like a fiver-year-old’s sparkler.

Enter “Hancock.” On the surface, it’s a superhero movie and stays true to many of the roots of its predecessors. Hancock, the lone man with his unique abilities must find his way in a troubled world while being troubled himself.

The drunk, belligerent Hancock of the opening scenes is not the superhero one has come to expect from Hollywood — to comics readers, it will seem more familiar as the comics world learned it had to delve deeper into the psyches of its hero 25 years ago.

Smith plays the tortured Hancock with a subtle comedic glow that lets the audience know he is having fun being a jerk.

It is a shame that the storyline is destined to strip Hancock down to a one-dimensional stereotype just when things get interesting.

All is not lost. Let’s have another round of applause for “Arrested Development.” Without that TV show, we may have lost Jason Bateman forever. While his characters — be it in “Juno,” “Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium” or “Hancock” — all seem like the same accountant who grew up watching British comedies, Bateman manages to bring a certain heart to the films he is in. While he may never be a leading man, he has become the reigning king of subtle humor in Hollywood.

Rounding out the leads is Charlize Theron who must have needed a paycheck. She is wasted in this film and while the plot twist craves a powerful actress, one of her talent is not needed and instead serves as a distraction. One goes through the film expecting more from her and when it happens, it doesn’t feel right.

Thankfully, her screen time is limited and doesn’t get in the way enough to ruin an otherwise enjoyable film. Director Peter Berg (“The Rundown,” “Friday Night Lights”) keeps the focus on Hancock and lets Smith be Smith.

It’s a wise choice, considering how good Smith can be — “Independence Day,” “Ali,” “The Pursuit of Happyness” — and how bad he can be — “Wild Wild West,” 2007’s “I Am Legend.”

Speaking of “I Am Legend,” Smith needed a film like “Hancock” to make up for that sad sack of a sci-fi/horror movie.

It’s too bad Hancock can’t go back in time and save Smith from making it.

Five stars out of five.

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