The Fantastic Four

"Four words, Sue. Four words that will change our lives forever..."

"[interrupting] The cloud is accelerating!"

Countless comic book heros have made the leap to the silver screen...some successfully: Batman, Spiderman, Superman, etc., and some have royally flopped: Ghost Rider, Hellboy, The Punisher, etc. I am sorry to say this film falls into the latter category.

Scientist Reed Richards (Gruffudd) has made an important discovery: a mysterious starfield. He leads a team into space to do some testing. The group includes his best friend Ben Grimm (Chiklis), an old flame Sue Storm (Alba), her brother Johnny Storm (Evans), and the business man funding their trip Victor von Doom (McMahon). Of course things don't go quite as Reed planned and they get caught in the cloud surrounding the starfield.

After returning to earth the team discovers they possess new talents. Reed can stretch his body like a rubberband, and is named Mr. Fantastic. Sue can become invisible and throw force fields, and becomes the Invisible Woman. Johnny has the ability to burn at supernova temperatures and generate fire, thus he is the Human Torch. And Ben (who was outside the ship when the cloud hit them) has undergone the largest transformation, turning orange with a body of stone and superhuman strength, he is The Thing. Victor discovers takes longer to demonstrate his power, but he has the ability to control metal and becomes Dr. Doom.

The rest of the film is the team learning to accept and control their powers. Ben is hit the hardest and has the most difficulty adjusting to his new look. And of course Victor emerges as the villain much later in the film.

I loved the comic/cartoon "The Fantastic Four", but this was just a big disappointment. There is no dramatic arc, the characters discover their powers but then go nowhere. Other superhero films have the character learn about their powers and then the villain emerges, they battle multiple times and then the hero emerges victoriously. But that doesn't happen here...and while it is nice to break out of the mold, this film just coasts until the ending, but by that point you don't care. And they have stupid "reasons" to let the male viewers gawk at Jessica Alba's body...it's just sad and pathetic.

Eh...: there are some funny lines, but overall the characters and dialogue are mediocre

Don't waste your time: it just isn't worth it...if it's on television and your only other option is crappy tv shows, then go for it, but don't expect too much.

The Fantastic Four (2005) 106 minutes

Rating: PG-13 for sequences of intense action, and some suggestive content

Director: Tim Story

Starring: Ioan Gruffudd as Reed Richards

Jessica Alba as Sue Storm

Chris Evans as Johnny Storm

Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm

Julian McMahon as Victor von Doom

Hamish Linklater as Leonard

Kerry Washington as Alicia

Laurie Holden as Debbie