Fantastic Four
Originally Written: August 2005
Watching “Fantastic Four” was interesting. Ever since I first saw trailers for it, I’ve seen the potential for this latest offering from Marvel Comics to the big screen to be less-than-satisfying. In retrospect, thinking more about the movie (which yes, I know I originally gave a C in my July Summer email), the movie did fall to my lowest expectations of the movie. In other words, it was more “Catwoman” and “Batman & Robin” than “Spider-Man 2” and “X2: X-Men United.” However, “Fantastic Four” had some good points (OK, two or three, and I promise to get to them later), as well as a point of interest for me in that it was a comic book movie from a director (“Barbershop” and “Taxi’s” Tim Story) without a distinct vision, possibly giving audiences a preview of what next summer’s “X-Men 3” will be with solid craftsman Brett Ratner (“Red Dragon,” “Rush Hour”) in the place of a director with real vision- Bryan Singer (who’s taking off with next summer’s “Superman Returns”). Story tells a good one (well, an OK one- OK, one only as good as the pedestrian, follow-the-comic-book-movie cliches script), but his film lacks style, consistant tone, and collective intelligence. Even disappointments like “Elektra” and “Hulk” had a dark and solidly-honed style courtesy of either an underrated craftsman (“Elektra’s” director- Rob Bowman- did the “X-Files” movie) or over-ambitious visionaries (“Hulk’s” Ang Lee). “Fantastic Four” is just fantastically average, mostly considerably below average. It’s villain- the diabolically derivative (in this incarnation at least) Dr. Doom- sneers and stares like a Kevin Spacey bad guy but without any of that actor’s devious charisma and wit (can’t wait to see him as Lex Luthor in “Superman Returns”). Two of the quartet themselves- Chris Evans’ Johnny Storm (aka the Human Torch) and Ioan Gruffudd’s Reed Richards (aka Mr. Fantastic)- fail to register positively; Reed Richards come closest to quality, but in the end is almost too much of a p*##y to root for, while Johnny Storm just comes off as an arrogant tool. The musical score by John Ottman (who flexed his comic book score chops brilliantly on “X2,” and will score “Superman Returns” next year) is a huge disappointment, sounding more like a 3rd-rate Danny Elfman imitation than the type of rich musical uniqueness Ottman has proven himself capable of. The action sequences are lifeless and uninspired; and though the CGI doesn’t completely blow, like the first “Spider-Man,” it looks just too cartoony to be convincing. And the “Four’s” pseudo-tragic origin story about how the four scientists- who become a surrogate family- turn into superheroes lacks feeling; again, it seems to be going through the motions of what a superhero movie should do as opposed to taking its’ own distinct path like the best (including this summer’s “Batman Begins”) do.
I said there were good points again? I did indeed, though they are few and far between. First, there’s the basic story of the “Fantastic Four,” the idea of this found family that comes together when chance and life throws them a curveball. It’s an idea from Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s comic book series that clearly inspired Joss Whedon when he did “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel,” and even if I did buy the film’s story emotionally, I’d love to see what could be done with it in more comic book comfortable hands (yes, I’d see a sequel). Secondly, there’s the other half of the “Fantastic Four” family. Best of all is Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm (aka the Thing); the star of FX’s “The Shield” finds the poignancy and sense of isolation in Grimm’s life when the accident turns him into the hulking, rock-solid (literally) Thing and a man his wife doubts she can love. If anything, a good script and better director for the sequel (and with grosses at $144 million and climbing, there’ll be a sequel) will only highlight Chiklis’ talent and complete embodiment of this character. Not so good- but not embarassing herself- is hottie Jessica Alba, in her second comic book adaptation this year (the first was “Sin City”). Alba- whose breakthrough (TV’s “Dark Angel”) I’ve yet to see- lacks the natural ability and depth of Sarah Michelle Gellar and Jennifer Garner, two other actresses whose star rose while playing kick-ass hotties on great TV shows (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Alias,” respectively). Still, she shows just enough to imbue her Sue Storm (aka the Invisible Woman) with just the right blend of down-to-Earth personality and compassion (like I read, she plays sister, daughter, and girlfriend to the other three) and butt-kicking toughness to make her character “approachably hot” and two dimensional. It’s not much I’ll grant you, but at least it can be said “Fantastic Four” isn’t a complete catastrophe…just 80% is. Hey, you gotta be thankful for what you get from movies nowadays, even if it isn’t much.
