Hancock, an action comedy starring Will Smith, finally got off the ground and flew into theaters this week.

After languishing in development hell for more than 10 years, Hancock reached movie-goers on Wednesday in an early effort to step up revenues for the holiday weekend. Reviews, as they are for most superhero adventures, are decidedly mixed, but that isn’t likely to stop popcorn-action-flick fans from forking over the cash to see the movie.

Smith stars as Hancock, an alcoholic and jaded superhero who is despised by the general public. He still performs the duties of a superhero - foiling bank robberies, saving falling construction workers, and stopping muggers - but he does it with no regard for property damage and with no cares about how well the job gets done. The public is outraged that someone, blessed with such gifts as supersonic flight and super strength, would not see fit to clean up his act and follow the guidelines set forth by heroes like Superman or Spider-Man.

Fortunately for the anti-hero Hancock, he happens to one day save the life of public relations guru Ray Embrey, played by Jason Bateman. Embrey is sure he can turn Hancock’s image around, and the two embark on a media blitz to turn Hancock into the hero he should have been.

But things get complicated when the hard-living Hancock enters into a questionable relationship with Embrey’s wife Mary, played by Academy Award winner Charlize Theron.

Once rehabilitated, Hancock promises the people he can do better and become the public servant they wish him to be. But for Hancock, things aren’t always what they seem, and the challenges he must face as the increasingly darkening plot unfolds come from some very unlikely places.

Hancock’s original premise and controversial subject matter present a stark contrast to a summer already being dominated by sequels and pre-destined animated money-makers.

Audiences hoping for action with a little something different are likely to be pleased with Hancock. A darker edge to a popular but waning genre may be just what movie-goers are looking for this holiday weekend.

In fact, the original few cuts of the film were given an R rating by the MPAA. Only after subsequent cuts and resubmittals was the PG-13 rating bestowed, which pleased the distributors who were hoping to reach as wide an audience as possible.

Hancock is in theaters now.