(Ref’s Review) Fantastic Four
Simon Kinberg
Jeremy Slater
Josh Trank
100 mins.
Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
August 7, 2015
Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, and language. (MPAA)
(Check out our podcast episode about “Fantastic Four” here.)
It’s no secret: the comic book industry is taking over cinema. With movies like “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Kingsman: The Secret Service,” and “Ant-Man” already released this year, it’s pretty much impossible to avoid Stan Lee and his comic book colleagues. Let’s face it: Hollywood cashes in on our affinity for superheroes, and the latest attempt at our wallets is Twentieth Century Fox’s second go at “Fantastic Four” – a Marvel comic book series that was first brought to the big screen in 2005. So, what can one of Hollywood’s powerhouse studios, four young up and coming stars, plus a 30-year-old newbie(ish) director add to this franchise reboot 10 years later? Apparently, not a whole lot. It’s simple math, folks:
Endless Exposition + Abrupt Action = “Fantastic Four” Falling Flat on Fox’s Fanny … Again
Rarely can I walk into a movie theater without knowing much about the movie. Somehow, I escaped the fangs of seeing the first two “Fantastic Four” movies starring, namely, Chris Evans (“Captain America” and “The Avengers” franchises) and Jessica Alba (“Sin City” franchise). Sure, I heard those movies were not Fox’s shining moments, but neither was “X-Men: The Last Stand,” and I forgave them for that. No, no, no, I was ready and willing to be wowed. Besides, word on the street said the reload had quite a different plot line from its predecessor.
Coming fresh off his “Whiplash” success, Miles Teller stars as Reid Richards, a young brilliant, wannabe scientist with hopes of becoming famous for being the first scientist to teleport humans. Along with his loyal childhood friend, Ben Grimm (Jamie Bell, “Billy Elliot”), Reid presents a prototype of the teleporting machine at a local science fair. After being mocked by a judge, Reid is approached by Dr. Franklin Storm (Reg E. Cathey, “House of Cards”), director of the Baxter Foundation, and his gifted, adopted daughter, Sue Storm (Kate Mara, “House of Cards”), who invites Richards to fill in the missing links to a similar machine already developed by troubled, science genius, Victor Von Doom (Toby Kebbell, “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”). Although bruising Von Doom’s pride, he agrees to work with Richards and lady Storm. Rounding out this band of mad scientists is Dr. Storm’s hot-tailing son, Johnny Storm (Michael B. Jordan, “Fruitvale Station” and “Chronicle”), who reluctantly helps put the finishing touches on the world’s first and only Quantum Gate machine.
At the heels of a successful trial to the mysterious Planet Zero, power-hungry Baxter supervisor, Dr. Allen, unexpectedly dismisses the team. Not taking this slap in the face lightly, Richards convinces Von Doom and Johnny, along with best friend, Grimm, to accompany him to make history by being the first humans on Planet Zero. Off they teleport to what appears to be a deserted, radioactive planet. As curious Von Doom explores off the beaten path, tragedy strikes. Fighting to get back to the ship, all members of the expedition are exposed to Zero’s radioactive goo. It takes earthbound Sue Storm, who also accidentally becomes exposed, to bring the boys back home – all but one, that is.
For the next 30 minutes or so, we are subjected to watch the four remaining scientists successfully (and unsuccessfully) handle their new abilities and physical transformations brought on by Planet Goo. To make a long, excruciating story short (too late), he, who was left behind, returns with ill intentions against Planet Earth. It’s up to the four working together to save the planet or be destroyed.
I have to say, writing the plot summary was much more eventful than watching it. With only 100 minutes to the movie, this plot line dragged on like the tailpipe of a 1974 Pinto. It’s downfall? — too much exposition and not enough action. For a comic-movie, that is an egregious no-no, and top-billed screenwriter, Simon Kinberg (“X-Men: Days of Future Past,” “Sherlock Holmes,” and “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”), should have known better. The lines didn’t seem natural coming out of the actors’ mouths. The moment when the four decide on their official name was cheesier than watching Marcia Brady come up with an idea for a Brady Bunch talent show. To Kinberg’s defense, he wasn’t the only billed writer. Sometimes intent gets lost in the hands of too many people. No, no, it can’t be the writing alone. So, why else didn’t this movie work?
At first I considered Teller’s bland performance. I kept thinking, just put some drumsticks in his hands and smack him around a bit to wake him up. He had some moments of life, but it was overall…well, meh. How about Kate Mara, who’s usually a believable brainiac? This is an actress who can go toe-to-toe with Kevin Spacey, so she knows what to do. In this case, she knew to lay low, clock in, and collect her check. There, of course, is Michael B. Jordan. It wasn’t a slam-dunk, but he managed to be decently entertaining with his character’s need for speed. The only stand out was Jamie Bell’s honest, authentic portrayal. He managed to make me believe that he was just a simple guy being a loyal friend; however, halfway through the movie, they turn him into a pile of rocks.
Overall, the actors had no sense of urgency about them, staggering from scene to scene. These are good actors, folks, with a lot of talent. So, who is responsible for this? Scattered performances, jagged plot lines, and a dawdling pace points to one person: the director.
Don’t get me wrong. Hats off to Fox for taking a chance on a young director with very little mega budget experience; however, regrettably, this gamble didn’t pay off. Director Josh Trank (“Chronicle”) delivers a soft blow by, ultimately, paying more attention to the look of “Fantastic Four” instead of its feel. Sure, the superpowers of the Four looked up-to-date and fresh, but if they are used sparingly, what’s the point? (Don’t save the good stuff for the sequel, Mr. Trank; we need it now.) Unfortunately, Trank fell into the same trap as the previous director, Tim Story (“Ride Along” and “Think Like a Man” franchises).
With a summer chalked full of prequels, sequels, and reboots of Hollywood past, I seem to be asking myself a lot lately, Why all the revisits? What do we need now that we didn’t get back then? Does the reboot further the franchise? I can unequivocally say no, in this instance. (Who knows, maybe it was because Stan Lee did not make a cameo in the film, as he does in all Marvel-based movies.)
“Fantastic Four 2” is already in the works, and I can’t say that I’m excited about that. Listen, I believe in second chances, but sometimes, you just have to know when to fold ’em. But for now, if you only have so much time and money for movie theater excursions this summer, I suggest you forfeit “Fantastic Four” and wait for the DVD.
Verdict: Watch Later (Tolerable…barely)
About: (Source: fantastic4)
FANTASTIC FOUR, a contemporary re-imagining of Marvel’s original and longest-running superhero team, centers on four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably upended, the team must learn to harness their daunting new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.
