Hey, Sony, Why Not Just Make Hancock Rated R?

I get the studio's dilemma with Hancock. On one hand you have Vincent Ngo's much-heralded screenplay on which the film is based. But there's some fine print that comes along with Ngo's script: the story is (apparently) rough around the edges, sexualized and more than a little foul. In other words, this is not your father's superhero film.

Hey, neither was Blade but the studio doesn't want solid Blade-like box-office returns. They want Will Smith box-office returns. Big Willie brings in the kiddies. Elementary, middle and high school kids would gladly flock to anything he's in these days. And it's my gut feeling they'd do so regardless of the film's rating.

The film has been submitted twice to the MPAA and twice it has returned with an R rating. Peter Berg might be pulling his hair out of his head as we speak, trying to tweak the cut enough to avoid the R rating (everyone's trying to deliver the PG-13 stamp) while not undercutting what made the film an enticing project for everyone involved in the first place.

I offer two solutions free of charge. The first is to just make the movie rated R. What is so damn bad about making an R-rated movie? Will it cut into your ticket sales? Sure. But that doesn't mean you can't pull in mega bucks. Like $200 million-plus mega bucks. There comes a point in time when you make a movie and you have to decide what is more important: your greed or the quality of your product. If its rougher edge is a valuable asset and watering it down will ultimately hurt what makes it special ... this is the way to go. Between DVD, online sales and global returns, the movie will be HUGELY profitable anyway. Of course, if it isn't all that special even with its vulgar edge, maybe you cut your losses and neuter the beast.

My second suggestion for a solution: Call Steven Spielberg and/or George Lucas and offer them an executive producer credit. Those guys can get anything passed through the MPAA. Michael Jordan wined and dined his NBA referees (allegedly) and he was the greatest. If Peter Berg wants his chance at greatness, he may have to cowboy up and take one for the team. Schmooze the suit(s), and the MPAA will come.

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Dre writes three times a week for Film.com. Email him!

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