Fantastic FourReview by Russ Breimeier |
posted 7/08/2005
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Ever hear about the family of superheroes where each member possesses a unique superpower? One of them can stretch like rubber into a variety of shapes and functions. Another is virtually indestructible with superhuman strength and endurance. Then there's this girl that can turn herself invisible and also generate protective force fields. And don't forget the hotshot youngster obsessed with speed and able to engulf himself in flames.
Sounds an awful lot like The Incredibles, right? Pixar's 2004 computer-animated smash may have been in development for several years, but that movie was clearly inspired in part by the Fantastic Four, the longest-running series in Marvel Comics' history. Though it debuted in 1961—before Spiderman, the X-Men, and the Hulk— "the superhero world's most famous dysfunctional family" has so avoided the move from page to screen. Part of this is due to visual effects technology (it's easier to fake flight or strength than it is to show elasticity). But more importantly, recent comic book films have become legitimized, thanks to smarter scriptwriting that focuses on character development and substantial storylines over stylistic art design.
Sue (Jessica Alba), Reed (Ioan Gruffudd), Ben (Michael Chiklis), and Johnny (Chris Evans)
Still, is the public ready for yet another superhero movie, or have audiences become oversaturated? For every hugely successful adaptation in the last five years (Spiderman, X-Men, Batman Begins), there have been at least as many flops (Hulk, Daredevil, Elektra). Fantastic Four is neither of these, though it at least delivers enough to do the genre more credit than harm.
Like any superhero debut, this is another origin movie, focusing on the relationships and developments of the four central characters. Reed Richards (Ioan Gruffudd of 2004's King Arthur) is a brilliant scientist, recently bankrupted after losing a contract with NASA. With the help of his best friend, astronaut Ben Grimm (Michael Chiklis of TV's The Shield), he hopes to observe a storm of cosmic radiation in space to unlock the secrets of genetic code and human evolution.
They find aid for the project through billionaire industrialist Victor Von Doom (Julian McMahon of TV's Nip/Tuck)—no further need to label him as the villain. Von Doom, an old college rival of Reed's, offers the use of his state-of-the-art orbital satellite for research and observation, provided that he's allowed to participate in the project. Also along for the ride are Sue Storm (Jessica Alba of Sin City)—Von Doom's assistant, who happens to be Reed's ex-girlfriend—and her brother, daredevil pilot Johnny Storm (Chris Evans of Cellular).
A force field comes in handy for Sue
Of course, things like this never go according to plan in comic books. (Are there any scientific experiments and demonstrations that don't go awry?) The cosmic storm irradiates the crew members, altering their genetic structures. In quarantine back on Earth, they soon discover unique side effects. Reed can alter his shape as if he was made of Silly Putty. Sue can bend the light around her to become invisible. Johnny discovers he can generate and manipulate fire while also flying, all of which he immediately uses to gain celebrity and pick up women. Ben fares the worst, gaining super strength but permanently transforming into a walking mass of craggy orange rock, and losing the love of his fiancée as a result.
Fantastic Four is the rare superhero movie that's not about saving the world (not this time, anyway). The plot is essentially how this quartet relates to their newfound powers to each other. They're relatively unique in that they become instant celebrities in New York without having to resort to secret identities. Despite their unusual abilities and appearances, the public embraces them for who they are—except the megalomaniac Victor, who eventually becomes Dr. Doom (one of Marvel Comics' most enduring villains). It's hard to say if he goes mad because he can't cope with literally transforming into a man of steel or because he loses his net worth, but he soon seeks revenge on Reed, leading to the film's major confrontation.
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