FANTASTIC FOUR

Marvel’s fab four make their big-screen debut in Tim Story’s FANTASTIC FOUR. A group of four scientists and one big business mogul take a trek to outer space with the hopes of a revolutionary discovery. Their trip goes awry when the troop hits a patch of cosmic rays, and turns their voyage into a life-changing event. The rays give the five-some unique powers: Reed Richards, the crew’s leader, can stretch his body to any shape and form; Sue Storm possesses the power of invisibility; her brother Johnny can create fire throughout his body; Ben Grimm becomes extremely strong and stone-like and Victor Von Doom becomes physically resilient with a metallic center. Reed, Sue, Johnny and Ben utilize their powers to benefit others, becoming known as the Fantastic Four, while Victor selfishly seeks to exploit his newfound dominance.

On the heels of the wonderfully scripted BATMAN BEGINS, the FANTASTIC FOUR feels like a super-hero adventure for toddlers. Unlike other comic book heroes, the Fantastic Four’s identities are known to all, but here, little is actually known about them. Director Tim Story, and a collection of screenwriters, turns the focus from characterization to combat. The emphasis is on action, which works at times, but without any interest for those involved, it’s all instant gratification. A few attempts are made at a romantic sub-plot between exes Reed and Sue, but it’s extremely underdeveloped, and Ben’s pathetic storyline feels awkward and flat. The performances are a comic-book, toss-back to one-dimensional caricatures. Each actor seems pigeon-holed by their poorly developed hero, and turns in a b-rated performance. FANTASTIC FOUR seems engineered to entertain with a couple of adeptly orchestrated action sequences, but with little invested in the four-some, it feels hollow to the core.

Grade: C-