Marvel-ous!

Rating: 9/10 (13 September 2006)

Fantastic Four is a fun film for the family and a joy to any of us who grew up with Marvel comics. It's very true to the look and feel of those friends you met on the pages of the comics as a kid in a world only you and they could understand. (Since you didn't realize there were millions reading the same thing at the time!) Reed and Susan are cast much younger than in the comic which adds a new dynamic since they are much less parental (and Sue especially is much more babe-alicious). The Thing is obviously a rubber suit, which is disappointing. Perhaps they should have gone with computer graphics despite Chiklis's protests, but the state of the art then might not have been that satisfying either. The bit that only a blind woman could love the Thing is dated and a bit prejudiced against both the ugly (Thing) and the disabled (the blind woman).
What does work is the coming alive of all those special effects you worked in your mind. They usually work very well here and only get a bit tired toward the end when it's obvious Dr. Doom is on a hoist when "flying" back after being smashed, etc. And the same pathos you remember from the comics, The Thing's sweetheart unable to handle his change, and his decision to sacrifice his life for Reed, are here as well. Johnny Torch is perfect, just the way he wad depicted in the comics and all the cocky attitude that made him one of my favorite superheroes.
Some folks say you shouldn't compare this to Spiderman, etc. I don't think it's possible not to compare. Spiderman will always be my favorite, but the FF (especially Johnny Torch) will always be right up there, and this film ensures that.
All in all a wonderful film and a fun way to share the same joy you had as a child with your own children. "Fun on!"