To be entertaining, but not satisfying, is not a good thing

Rating: 7/10 (31 May 2006)

This movie was a clear disappointment. I have this feeling that the Fantastic Four films are going to be more satisfying in the end. And speaking of 'The End' that's largely the problem here. After building up some suspense the payoff fizzles out, and if you're not particularly into action films it may give you a headache like it gave my wife. Were the original comic books that lame too? I don't know, but I have a sneaking suspicion that they were.
I can't help carping on one point that REALLY irritates me. Famke Janssen is not showcased well in this flick. I'd much rather watch her as the center of attention in a positive and adoring way than her treatment here: she's almost abused in this one. I can't think of any other actress who seems to have all the lights on upstairs as clearly as Famke. I've never seen her in any film where I didn't want to see more of her than the film makers were willing to give me. Here she's on screen a lot, but not in a particularly positive way. I felt cheated and I wish someone would put her in the spotlight far more than she has been. As to the other players, Hugh Jackman does a great job. This guy has a feel for this part that is quite unusual, I think. There's no condescension in his interpretation. And that's true of the rest of the case as well. So the talent's there. What they need is a proper script.
They've touted the philosophical question at the core of this film in the trailers. I was looking forward to a popular treatment of an important question with real implications, but I found the exploration of that question pretty superficial and unsatisfying. Clearly there will be great science fiction made around this question eventually, but this isn't it.