Frankly, I Was Shocked And Awed

Rating: 7/10 (9 May 2012)

A group of astronauts gain superpowers after a cosmic radiation exposure and must use them to oppose the plans of their enemy, Doctor Victor Von Doom (Julian McMahon).
I grew up on comic books, and I was never thrilled by the Fantastic Four. I cannot pinpoint why, but they were never my thing. Yet, this film took my lack of excitement and turned it around. At least somewhat. It far exceeded my expectations and yet remained as faithful to the comic as possible for a film. The inclusion of "clobberin' time" and "flame on" was smooth without being kitsch.
The effects are mostly good. With, sadly, the exception of Mr. Fantastic. I found the stretching to be very cheesy (though it gets worse in the sequel). The casting was decent, though I am very confused by Jessica Alba. If the point of casting her was to get her to take off her clothes, mission accomplished. But I think of Sue Storm as a scientist, not a sexual being... and here the casting fails.