Hits the Comic Book Sweet Spot

Rating: 9/10 (21 June 2007)

I'm a little confused about all the negative reviews. This movie is highly entertaining. I confess that I am sucker for these movies and will go see even the worst of them in the theater but I was prepared to pan this one and was pleasantly surprised. This is in the second class of comic book movies, the class that appreciates what it is and shoots for maximum entertainment with not too much cornball. The first class would be the new Batman movie, the last Punisher and the first two X-Men (and to a lesser degree the new Superman), which are real, thoughtfully directed movies with character depth. Even the superpowers in these movies are basically low key (as compared to the comic book) and you have a sense that the adventure could actually take place in the real world. Then there is the next level, which goes for the, er, more fantastic aspects of the story, and emphasizes action and perhaps cuts a few corners to achieve its goals but basically works like a good comic book. That's where FF2 fits, right along with the first 2 Spiderman movies, director's cut Daredevil, X3, Hulk and the old Batman series. These are fun in their own way but often contain a number of flaws that some folks for various reasons can't get past. Daredevil was too much like an MTV video, the Hulk was too disconnected and cerebral, X3 just didn't live up to the first two, etc. The last class is the class for those movies that don't know where they fit, and consequently just feel like a mess of contradiction, corniness and just plan bad movie making. These are the Ghost Riders and Elektras of the world, and also the first Fantastic Four. That movie tried to be in the second class, but was too bogged down by a bad script, bad acting and most importantly I think, a low budget campy feel that seemed to suggest that the studio brass just wasn't quite sure how much money they wanted to sink into it. I kinda liked the ensemble feel to the movie, but it ultimately doesn't work. FF2 is a giant step forward with real conflicts (Johnny as team member, Sue and Richard with the normal life) and the whole Silver Surfer arc was fabulous. I didn't think the ending was that clichéd really (well you can see it from a mile away but still) it just seemed to work. And the action is ratcheted way up, with tons of little moments that are true to the comic book form (sue turning into flames, doom sabotaging the surfer in the forest, etc). All in all just a really good time.