REEL CRITICS:

Will Smith stars as the reluctant superhero “Hancock” in his current entry in the summer blockbuster race.

It starts with some high-powered special effects and lots of collateral damage. The hard-drinking superman creates havoc while rescuing ordinary humans from wayward criminals without any explanation of how this situation came to be.

Unusual developments follow when Hancock meets a public relations guy played earnestly by Jason Bateman.

He helps redeem Hancock’s image and stops his alcoholic decline. But greater complications arise when Charlize Theron enters the picture as Bateman’s stunning wife.

She knows the secret of the origin of his super powers. Many twists and turns ensue as the story is revealed.

This film starts out with dynamic thumping silliness.

The superhero at the core starts out with a nasty edge and a foul mouth.

But the entire enterprise morphs into something more profound as the ancient source of Hancock’s powers become known.

There’s a Hollywood ending that seems appropriate once we get to the end of the complex journey. And a sequel is almost assured.

Foreign mystery flick reminiscent of ‘Fugitive’

“Tell No One” is a terrific film and a top-notch mystery.

A deserving winner of several César Awards (the French equivalent of Oscars), this film combines exciting chase scenes reminiscent of “The Fugitive,” with a plot that will keep you surprised until the last minute.

It’s also a tender story of a lost love.

Dr. Alex Beck was on holiday in the country with his wife, Margot, when she was attacked and he was left for dead.

Eight years later, Alex is still grieving her death when new evidence is suddenly discovered near the old crime scene.

The police’s suspicions are renewed that Alex was the killer, while the good doctor tries to discover what really happened on that tragic day.

At the same time, he receives some cryptic e-mails with the warning “tell no one,” which are being monitored by a mysterious interested party.

Kudos to director Guillaume Canet, who skillfully co-adapted the screenplay from Harlan Coben’s 2001 novel and who also has a small role as a sleazy rich kid.

Francois Cluzet is compelling and heartbreaking as the much put-upon Alex, and British actress Kristin Scott Thomas (“The English Patient”) shows off her acting chops and perfect French as his best friend.

I would tell everyone to see “Tell No One” — and will enjoy seeing it again soon.

SUSANNE PEREZ lives in Costa Mesa and is an executive assistant for a financial services company. JOHN DEPKO is a Costa Mesa resident and a senior investigator for the Orange County public defender’s office.