Fantastic Four (2005) **1/2

Rating: 6/10 (24 March 2006)

Bland, forgettable addition to the myriad CGI-happy super-hero flicks (of alarmingly variable quality): in this case, I recall watching the cartoon version from my childhood and, frankly, apart from the excessive technical jargon unpersuasively mouthed by the cardboard characters, this big-screen adaptation shows little or no sign of a higher intelligence at work and, indeed, in the brash antics of Chris Evans and the lame rock score, suggests that it was primarily designed with the dreaded 'teen market' in mind! As such it's mindlessly enjoyable, particularly Michael Chiklis' wisecracks...and Jessica Alba's presence certainly doesn't hurt (though it had to be her character that was rendered invisible by the script!).