Review of Fantastic Four (2005) by Andrew D — 28 Jul 2014

It may not be the best written, directed, or acted superhero film compared to many of the superhero films that have been released since its release, but I still had as much fun with Fantastic Four as I did when I saw it in the theaters 9 years ago.

When a group of scientists are exposed to a deadly storm, they each gain different super powers. Reed Richards becomes able to stretch any part of his body, Susan Storm is able to turn invisible and project force fields, Johnny Storm can become a living fireball that flies through the air, and Ben Grimm has become a hulking rock creature that can crush anything in his path.

While on the search for a cure, they are unaware of the changes that another member of their crew, Victor Von Doom, is going through, risking their safety and New York City's. The biggest credit that I can give this film is that it is 100% fun! From start to finish, the film gives well filmed action scenes, quirky one liners, and some pretty cheesy moments that make for one great guilty pleasure of a film.

When I first saw this, I was completely mesmerized by the workings of the four superheroes, particularly Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards) because of his smart thinking. Seeing it again, I unfortunately did not identify with him as much as I used to.

He's pretty bland as a character, only shining when he's able to use his super powers to fight bad guys. The same goes for Sue Storm, who barely has any form of character development that isn't cliched and hard to sit through.

Johnny and Ben (The Human Torch and The Thing) steal this show in every minute that they are in. What I loved about Johnny was his crazy and quirky attitude, which gave the film a fun boost. It just goes to show that a fun superhero movie can be made without the brooding drama and dark back stories.

Whenever he was onscreen, I had a big smile on my face because he always had something exciting to do, whether it was messing with the team or flying through NYC in flame form. What I loved about Ben was his character.

He's best written character in the whole film, possibly because it's all about him. Based on the script, one can easily tell that The Thing is the highlight because of his longing to be human again.

This writing makes for some cheesy moments, but I felt for the character as he searched for the cure. As for the visuals in this film, they certainly do not hold up to this day when we have such films as The Avengers and X-Men: Days of Future Past in existence.

Still, it brought for a nostalgic feeling. Once I settled in and accepted that the visuals wouldn't be the best, I had a lot of fun with the action scenes in this film. If you haven't seen Fantastic Four yet, you should definitely check it out.

Sure, it's goofy, cheesy, and doesn't hold up too well today, but it's still a fun ride when you get into it and will leave you with a big smile on your face when the credits roll.