Written by Michael France & Mark Frost
Directed by Tim Story
“Do really think fate turned us into gods so we could refuse these gifts?”
So…it wasn’t as bad as I was told it was going to be. However, it was nowhere near as good as I hoped it would be.
Fantastic Four is the Star Wars - Episode III of comic book movies. It’s a hyper-fast comic strip, where depth, character development, motivations, and revelations are all surface gloss. Everything is paper thin, and the audience is expected to believe everything simply because (1) characters say so, or (2) through extremely contrived moments and set pieces.
So much rich character history is glossed over at warp speed: Ben Grimm’s personal tragedy, on becoming The Thing; the relationship between Reed Richards and Susan Storm…it’s all too fast, too insubstantial, and too fluffy. As for Julian McMahon as Victor Von Doom, he’s absolutely over the top — his motivations are simply too outrageous and too ridiculous to take seriously. He’s not made of metal, so much as he’s composed of 100% cardboard!
So, just like Star Wars, character and depth are sacrificed for pace and action. Just like Star Wars, I’d give this movie a 5 out of 10 for being incredibly imperfect…
BUT…it has a slight edge over Star Wars in two key departments:
1— The acting is head and shoulders above the George Lucas show. Thanks to a much more accomplished cast, we end up caring about the characters, despite the inadequacies of the story. Special mention must go to Michael Chiklis, who brings lovely humanity to this monstrous role, and (surprisingly!) to Chris Evans as Johnny Storm, who is obviously having the time of this life as the Human Torch.
2— This movie is FUNNY! It’s warm, amusing, fun, at times absolutely hilarious (courtesy of Evans and Chiklis). It makes you leave the theatre happy, nursing a warm feeling inside. It’s an endearing characteristic that Star Wars so desperately needed.
And no one screams NOOOOOO at the top of their melodramatic lungs!
I went to see Fantastic Four at the cheap theatre, and it was $6.75 worth spending. It’s completely disposable entertainment, and it’s certainly no Batman Begins…but it lives up to its purpose.
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