Bad, but not as bad as I expected

Rating: 5/10 (7 September 2009)

Fantastic Four probably should have been more insulting, because, in reality, it's completely idiotic. It's the kind of movie where all the extras behave like movie extras and not just real-life bystanders. No one seems to think too much of it when a guy bursts into flames or a chick becomes invisible. Maybe a couple of gasps with one hand covering the mouth. I think the film mostly survives because the actual actors of the film aren't half bad. Both Michael Chiklis as the Thing and Chris Evans as the Human Torch are compelling whenever they're the focus. Jessica Alba is compelling, too, if only for her gorgeousness. Ioan Gruffudd is the only dud among the heroes. He always seems to add nothing to a picture. I also liked Julian McMahon as the villain. The stupidity of the whole thing isn't the film's biggest problem. The thing is, there's not much conflict in the picture. The Four (or most of them anyway) want to cure themselves, and too much of the movie is spent on this part of the plot. The villain doesn't do too much until near the end. The Four don't even realize he's a villain until the final fifteen minutes.