Surprisingly well done

Rating: 7/10 (11 July 2005)

Though they have managed to make some good Marvel movies, I'm still skeptical about a House of M film. For every X2, there's a Daredevil; for every Blade, a dopey Spiderman film (yes, I know most people think the Spiderman films are good. Most people are wrong). For years no one could do a superhero movie right, and Bryan Singer changed that. DC upped the stakes earlier this summer with the first good Batman film ever. But could the Fantastic Four  arguably some of the most comic-booky heroes ever created  be successfully translated? I doubted it.
One of the problems with the FF in the comics is that the characters themselves are only moderately interesting, it's just that they have an amazing villains gallery (Galactus, all that negative zone crap, and of course the greatest villain in comics history, Dr. Doom). But the writers of the film were a step ahead of me; they realized that as well, and did their damnedest to make these people a whole lot more engaging than their comic counterparts. And largely, they succeeded.
Having Reed (Ioan Gruffudd, perfect casting), the brainy scientist, be an ex of also somewhat brainy and impossibly sexy Sue (Jessica Alba) was a masterstroke that gives them a fun subtext right away and strips away the need for a lot of exposition. While both Ben Grimm (Michael Chiklis) and Johnny Storm (Chris Evans) are a little simplified, they are both handled effectively as well, from Ben's self-hatred (long a staple in the comic) to Johnny's immature handling of his powers. The four of them blend very well, and display more warmth and camaraderie than they ever do in print.
The film's only weakness is in its villain, Victor Von Doom (still one of the greatest names Stan Lee or anyone else ever came up with  played here by Julian McMahon). Doom is less of his Darth Vader persona in the comics and is really more like Lex Luthor here, a wealthy industrialist slowly losing it while he, like the others, mutates. Doom is never captivating or interesting the way the leads are, which is an ironic twist as its exactly the opposite in the comics.
The movie may be a little loud and a little dumb, but it's also fun and engaging. Johnny Storm's enjoyment of his powers and amused bewilderment at his new abilities jumps off the screen and infects the audience. Chiklis manages to give an excellent performance through a mountain of latex (even though, oddly enough, he looks like Sean Astin in that suit), portraying Ben's wounded side very well. Gruffudd plays Reed to a T  the ultimate dweeb, a science geek to end all science geeks but deep down a really good guy who just wants to help people. And Sue? Well, Sue Storm has always been the least well defined of the FF, and that's no different here. Alba is essentially eye candy, there for the fanboys to pant after, and in that regard she hits the mark perfectly. Sue is fine, there's nothing wrong, but she lacks any strong personality traits (and being sexy doesn't count). I would have liked to see her character developed a little more; she's pleasant but I felt there could have been more done.
Even a relatively lackluster villain can't slow the proceedings down, and FF is surprisingly good. It's fast, it's funny, and it's very likable. I was very surprised by how well it was pulled off  far more engaging (and less stupid) than the Spiderman films. It doesn't take itself as seriously as Batman Begins, but I count that as a positive thing. It probably won't win over any non-comic book fans, but it's not trying to. FF is good summer fun, certainly worth a matinée.