Comic Book Movies 101: Fantastic Four

17th Feb 2011

Fantastic 4

Marvel’s Fantastic 4 are the first true team in comic books as the four are exposed to cosmic rays and develop different superpowers as a result. Back on earth the group has to adjust to their new found abilities and fame. Ultimately we move to the face-off between the now united four and their former employer Victor Von Doom (simply Doom) who has made himself into a super villain. The four naturally prevail in a massive explosion of special effects as we all sit back, grit our teeth and wait for the inevitable sequel.

For Marvel fans the Fantastic Four is a much loved institution so the Fantastic 4 film was under great pressure to succeed. Sadly the casting of the four is half good and half very bad to say the least. Both Chris Evans as the Human Torch and Michael Chiklis as The Thing are excellent. Sadly Jessica Alba and Ioan Gruffudd as Susan Storm and Reed Richards are poor at best. Lacking any actual chemistry between each other, the result is a yawn-fest for the viewer. Gruffudd does his best to convince but Alba demonstrates a lack of acting skill that practically left me in need of therapy to address the depression.

Given these problems the story had to be both dynamic and action packed. The choice of villain was obvious given the role Doom plays in the comics. But, as Willem Defoe’s Green Goblin in the original Spiderman, he simply ends up a man in a costume lacking any true menace.

The narrative is the usual first installment stuff as it must explain how they became the Fantastic Four and the usual changes in lifestyle due to that event. Sadly, the story never moves above the pedestrian as Doom slowly discovers his powers alongside the Fantastic Four and looks to exploit them for evil instead of good. Then we get a few poorly plotted set pieces meant to demonstrate the team’s new powers but which appallingly only highlight the sub standard special effects. Eventually we arrive at the inevitable showdown that is as un-engaging as the vast majority of what went before.

The saving grace is the storyline involving Ben Grimm better known as The Thing. Unlike the other members of the Four, The Thing cannot turn his power on and off. His strength and his changed appearance is constant which leads Ben Grimm to want to return to his former self. This is only heightened when his beloved fiancée his horrified when he returns home. Ultimately Ben has to chose between his old self or the possible good he could achieve as one of the Fantastic Four. This is a Marvel quandary of legendary proportions as those chosen for greatness struggle to adapt to their new environment. Ultimately Ben chooses to become The Thing and use his powers to assist the weak in typical Marvel fashion. The magnificent Michael Chiklis achieves all this both in and out of the Thing suit he has to perform within.

Fantastic 4 is not a terrible film but it lacks any kind of spark that lifts it above the banal. There are simply too many problems to keep the viewer enthralled. As these problems pile up you simply sit mulling them over becoming more and more annoyed as it goes on. A sequel was inevitable given the box office returns but they should have simply gone for a re-boot with better actors for Richards and Storm and a better script for everyone else.

Fantastic 4: Rise Of Silver Surfer

Marvel studios return with a Fantastic Four sequel this time pitting the Four against the Silver Surfer as he looks to destroy the world. Doom returns from the dead, now aligning with the military to stop the Surfer only in an effort to get his hands on the board. Reed and Susan are finally getting married but typically things do not go according to plan as the arrival of the Silver Surfer marks 7 days until the world is destroyed.

Sadly Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer has kept all the principal actors from the original outing. Gruffudd and Alba remain as the mismatched central couple, this time with Alba so unbelievable as Susan Storm that it’s actually painful to watch. The backdrop of the wedding becomes exhausting almost immediately as Johnny organizes Reed’s stag party. This takes us to a nightclub where Reed explains the universe to some showgirls before being dragged onto the dance floor to bust out some stretchy moves. The film fails to recover from this disastrous start with the big London Eye set piece looking like something cobbled together by a team of ten year olds. Any contact with the surfer leads to Fantastic Four switch powers with each other upon contact. This naturally leads to much comedy as The Thing and Human Torch continue their hysterical banter to hilarious effect. Naturally this comic device comes into play during the London set piece which simply adds salt into the viewers already gaping wound.

As for the Silver Surfer, the creative team promised visuals that would redefine special effects within the genre. Either these people have never seen Terminator 2 or they are seriously in denial. The surfer floats about the earth causing much destruction but who cares really is the problem. As a minimum amount of actual back-story is provided as regards the surfer his ultimate capture and change of heart courtesy of Alba is also un-engaging. By the time Von Doom returns again suited and booted with the surfers board for added power you really sit around and wish the Hulk would arrive and destroy the entire lot of them. The effects overall are as poor as the first installment and the best looking thing is once again the magnificent Thing suit which remains a joy.

In the early 80’s B-Movie legend Roger Corman held the film rights to the Fantastic 4. As they were about to expire, Corman put together a no budget adaptation that would ensure he would retain the rights to sell in the future. Declared as an Ash-Can production by others this part feature part trailer has become a favorite at comic cons all over the world. Having only seen screen shots and small sections on youtube I feel I can confidently declare that it looks better than this rubbish and its predecessor combined.