Review of Fantastic Four (2015) by Christopher H — 30 Jul 2016

Josh Trank's (Chronicle) adaptation of the Fantastic Four property is sadly another misfire in Hollywood's continuing failed attempts at bringing Marvel's First Family to the big screen.

The big problem with this movie is that it feels like nobody was really at the helm steering the production. The tone and approach is completely all over the place. One minute it's an 80's-style Spielberg kids movie, then it's a silly attempt at being 70's-style hard science fiction with silly science, then it's horror, and then a bland visual effects-infused superhero affair during the film's extremely rushed climax.

The film is mildly enjoyable for the first 30 minutes thanks to it's talented young cast (who do a fine job despite the script not giving them much to work with) and some of the visuals are nice (Ex. Johnny Storm's flame effects). But after they get their powers, everything falls apart. The plot becomes a confused ridiculous mess, the character relationships go completely under-developed, the visual effects are shockingly cheap-looking for a 120 million dollar blockbuster, and there is no real action up until the very end.

It all culminates into an absolutely lame climactic battle between the FF and Dr. Doom (who is completely wasted in this movie) that is brought down by weak effects, un-imaginative action, and a nonsensical resolution. I'd rank it up there as one of the worst endings to a film I've ever seen.

It's a shame because at it's heart there was a unique approach to a superhero movie somewhere in this mess (hard science fiction with emphasis on emotional story-telling) but the ideas never culminate into a good movie.

FF fans will have to continue to wait longer for a good FF movie adaptation...or just watch "The Incredibles".