Fantastic Four: Fun, Fun, Fun, Fun

Rating: 6/10 (15 June 2007)

First, let's start with the bad news: The film is much too short. It clocked in at just about ninety minutes. The first film did a great job of laying the groundwork. Ideally, the second film should be the monumental epic. Director Tim Story certainly has a feel for the material, yet there is still the missing piece: the soul of the movie. The movie feels rushed and truncated. Next: the Galactus dilemma. With all of the CGI at their fingertips, and this was the best they could do for Galactus? I think this will be the major sore spot for many fans. One can't help but feel slighted by the producers concept of Galactus. If, as I have heard from the rumor mill, that the makers of the film are planning to unveil Galactus in either the next Fantastic Four or the Silver Surfer spin-off, then I suppose I could partly forgive them. After all, that has been the problem with so many comic book adaptations: too many villains. So, that brings us to the good news: FUN, FUN, FUN, FUN! Forget the negative reviews, this film is all about having a good time at the movies. Tim Story, as I have said, has a great feel for the material. He realizes that the essence of the Fantastic Four is rooted in the family dynamic. The chemistry between the Four is flawless. The writers understand that the theme is not just how the heroes deal with the enemy, but with each other as well. The humor that is derived from this set-up is spot on. One memorable scene has Johhny coercing Reed into a bachelor party. The camaraderie among the actors lends these scenes the credibility for the familial interaction. It's not just about buying into the special effects, it's about buying into the human aspects as well. I would like to have seen more of the Surfer. However, I suspect that will come in the aforementioned spin-off. True to the source material, we learn that the Surfer was once Norrin Radd. Otherwise, the effects are great, the cinematography awesome, and Story keeps the action going from start to finish.
Basically, this a great summer, popcorn flick. It delivers the goods with much respect given to the source material. Highly recommended.