Fantastic Four fans, don't look! Once again another classic Marvel comic has been ruined.
Director Tim Story seems to have done the best he could with an underdeveloped script and bad acting. The film focuses on the how the Fantastic Four came to be and, of course, their battle with the villain, Doctor Doom.
With a huge deviation from the original comic (Doctor Doom being on the spaceship along with the Fantastic Four when their DNA is altered) and Jessica Alba's sloppy acting, the movie gets off to a bad start. When asked about the plot change in which Doctor Doom is in the spaceship with the Fantastic Four during their transformation, Story only offered that it was already in the script when he received it and it was easier to leave it rather than create too many subplots.
The film immediately jumps into the DNA-altering space mission that creates Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, The Thing, and The Human Torch. As a matter of fact, it happens so fast that the audience will wonder why they went on the space mission to begin with.
Following the weak special effects of the DNA-altering accident, the film falls into what Tim Story calls "the superhero dealing with fame." Their newly-developed superpowers create an unwanted celebrity status for three of the four friends. (The Human Torch, played by Chris Evans, is the only one to revel in his new fame).
Kudos are owed to Michael Chiklis for enduring the magnificent costume that transformed him into The Thing, Chris Evans for portraying The Human Torch perfectly, and Julian McMahon for embodying all that makes Doctor Doom. Regrettably, these positive aspects are spoiled when Jessica Alba attempts to act. Her lines are flat and, at times, her feigned delivery laughable. The close-ups of her body in the skin-tight Fantastic Four costume reveal the true reason for her casting; ultimately, the audience will leave wondering why she's always wearing glitter on her eyes.
While the fight sequences are impressive and certain pieces of dialogue amusing, nothing is fantastic, pun intended. The majority of the dialogue consists of the four friends arguing over whether or not they should be superheroes.
There were definitely hints at a sequel and hopefully a more developed one. Overall the film was entertaining and a predictable make of a Marvel comic. Don't look for the originality seen in this summer's earlier comic book blockbuster, Batman Begins. In the realm of comic book films, the movie was average; for films in general it was horrible. If you don't want to think but do want to watch things go "boom!" I suggest you go see Fantastic Four. It won't disappoint in that arena.
