Iron Man vs. Hancock (spoiler-free)

Here we have two superhero movies, both with charismatic leading men (Robert Downey, Jr. vs. Will Smith) and able supporting cast (Jeff Bridges and Gwyneth Paltrow vs. Jason Bateman and Charlize Theron). Hancock's trailer has the edge over Iron Man's, highlighting its quirky story and acting talent, but when it comes down to it, Iron Man wins hands-down.

Downey, Jr. has had a renaissance since his career-threatening drug conviction. He's terrific in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and he brings the perfect cynical persona to the role of Tony Stark. What makes him great in that cynical role is that he has a heart. He tosses off his lines as a joke, while underneath it he believes in the goodness of the world. Will Smith has made a career out of a similar persona, if a bit gentler. He'll make fun of you, and with a wink, let you know that you're in on the joke, not the butt of it. In Hancock, he plays a character reviled by the city he's trying to save. It's clear that he knows why people don't like him; it's just too much work for him to do anything about it. If the movie were entirely about that aspect of his character and his journey toward respectability and understanding, this category might be more even. As it is, Smith does a terrific job with his character, but for a good portion of the movie, most of that is lost. Downey, Jr. manages to keep our attention and sympathy even when hidden inside his iron suit.

Hancock's real weakness is its story. Where Iron Man wasn't particularly original, at least the story was tightly plotted. The movie rarely dragged, rarely felt forced, and often surprised (in a good way). Hancock went for originality and went too far. If it were only the story of Hancock being accepted and learning to work with the people he protects, it would have had the potential to be a great movie. But sadly, that wasn't enough, and the additional material is confusing, takes Smith out of the role to some extent, and on top of it all, doesn't make sense on a number of levels. Sometimes it's better to do a formulaic movie well than to break formula for the sake of breaking formula.

So far, there's a clear winner in the superhero movies this summer, and he's the guy in the iron suit.