Fantastic Four (pg)
Starring: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis and Julian McMahon
“What’s the worst that could happen?”
No, this isn’t an advert for Dr Pepper, this is actually one of the worst things you can say in the ‘Movie-Verse’. In fact, in terms of idiocy, it ranks up there with phrases such as “what could possibly go wrong?” or “let’s split up and look for clues”. In other words, you’re asking for it. Big time.
So, here we have it, another in the line of comic book to big screen adaptations, brought to you by Marvel Comics, the same people who brought us Spiderman.
Though in a comparison to Spiderman, Fantastic Four has been tried, and found severely lacking.
It details the plot of four scientist types, who jet off into space under the watchful eye of Victor Von Doom (McMahon), to examine DNA in the light of a solar storm. Only, true to comic book form, the calculations are out. Shields are down, doors open, people outside, and the shuttle gets battered by the storm.
Back on Earth, whilst having medical examinations to discover the effects of being caught in the storm, the Four discover their talents. Fire, Invisiblity, Elasticity and well, The Thing.
But do they go out and make the most of it? No. Reed (Gruffudd) decides that the only thing to do, is build a machine to recreate the effects and turn them back. Thus follows plot, in which they ultimately face Doom, the metal man, utterly vindictive in the fact that he was bankrupted by the ‘failed’ mission.
I was quite disappointed with this, expecting an epic of Spiderman, or Batman proportions. The plot lagged in places, and ulitmately, perhaps the casting of Sue and Reed weren’t quite right. However, there came redeeming points in the forms of Evans' Johnny Storm, and Chiklis’ The Thing. Both who brought their characters to life, and weren’t afraid to do what was necessary on screen.
And as with all Hollywood Blockbusters, the ending has been left open for a sequel, one which will make you smile as you note the connection between the start and end of the film.
US box office analysts predicted a low opening weekend for Fantastic Four, as, whilst the Four are popular in comic book circles, they have always been cast back in the shadows of Batman and Spiderman in the eyes of the public.
Four refused to play along, taking $56 million in it’s opening weekend alone. Placing it as the third highest grossing open this year, falling just behind Star Wars: Episode III’ and ‘War of the Worlds’.
It must have done something right then.
Fantastic Four goes on General Release tomorrow. Many thanks to Leicester Odeon for allowing us to review the film.
