Fantastic Four

Another comic book adaptation, another semi-disappointment. This movie’s only salvageable element are its visual effects (good and believable), but this isn’t saying much given that eye popping effects are now a staple of any studio wannabe franchise and/or tent-pole product. Other than that, there’s really nothing worth your money or time.

I won’t even bother summarizing the story, since it’s the usual recycled good guys vs. bad guy concept (guess who wins in the end; hint: they’ve already made a sequel).

The direction is bland and the script boring, so much so that even the actors struggle to find ways to make something concrete out of thin air.

This was actually the movie of first performances for me, for virtually all the marquee names. Of the top five actors, I had only seen Ioan Gruffudd in a small supporting role in Titanic, and he’s probably the one that does the best work here. The other one would have to be Michael Chiklis, of The Shield fame.

Chris Evans, gloriously handsome and all too eager to show off his statuary body (thank you, Chris, you didn’t disappoint in that…) is mediocre at best while the other very attractive male, Julian McMahon (the hotter half of the Nip/Tuck duo) seems quite underutilized.

Jessica Alba, the lone female role in this stinker, disappoints because although she has made quite a name for herself, in this movie looks like not much more than a bimbo.

Stay away.

Grade: 4