Film Snail

5.8

Fantastic Four

PG-13·2005·106m

Action

Fantasy

Science Fiction

Action

Fantasy

Science Fiction

Summary

During a space voyage, four scientists are altered by cosmic rays: Reed Richards gains the ability to stretch his body; Sue Storm can become invisible; Johnny Storm controls fire; and Ben Grimm is turned into a super-strong … thing. Together, these "Fantastic Four" must now thwart the evil plans of Dr. Doom and save the world from certain destruction.

Cast

Ioan Gruffudd

Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic

Jessica Alba

Sue Storm / Invisible Woman

Chris Evans

Johnny Storm / Human Torch

Michael Chiklis

Ben Grimm / The Thing

Julian McMahon

Victor von Doom / Doctor Doom

Hamish Linklater

Leonard

Kerry Washington

Alicia Masters

Laurie Holden

Debbie McIlvane

David Parker

Ernie

Kevin McNulty

Jimmy O'Hoolihan

Maria Menounos

Sexy Nurse

Michael Kopsa

Ned Cecil

Andrew Airlie

Compound Doctor

Pascale Hutton

Nightclub Girlfriend

G. Michael Gray

Nightclub Boyfriend

David Richmond-Peck

Gallery Patron

Penelope Parkes

Bohemian Girl 1

Aonika Laurent

Bohemian Girl 2

Jason Schombing

Bridge Businessman

Jason Diablo

NYPD Bridge Cop 1

Colin Lawrence

NYPD Bridge Cop 2

Paul Belsito

NYPD Bridge Cop 3

Dee Jay Jackson

Chief Fireman

Morgan Reynolds

Corvette Redhead

Gina Holden

LV Receptionist

Donavon Stinson

X Games Announcer

Douglas Weston

Victor's Doctor

Tony Alcantar

Compound Reporter #1

Brenda Crichlow

Compound Reporter #2

Peter Bryant

Lame Joke Businessman

Lorena Gale

Old Lady With Car #1

Danielle Dunn-Morris

Old Lady With Car #2

Nicole Muñoz

Little Girl

Daniel Bacon

Bridge Reporter

Bobby Bysouth

Compound Reporter #3

Kenny Bartram

Himself

Ronnie Renner

Himself

Brian Deegan

X Games Rider

Marlaina Mah

Lusting Model

Tre Verhoeven

Lusting Model

Juanita Mirehouse

Lusting Model

Stefanie Singer

Lusting Model

Jamie Little

X Games Reporter

Doug Abrahams

Truck Driver

Ron Chartier

Hotel Guest

Stan Lee

Willie Lumpkin

Barbara Christabella

Girl in Park

Sanja Banic

Girl in Park

Ed Hodson

Construction Worker

John Speredakos

Construction Worker

Jason Kaufman

Cop

Preston Thomas Peet

Goth Guy

Steven Fulani Hart

Newsstand Pedestrian

Bethann Schebece

Newsstand Pedestrian

Lou Torres

Cab Driver

Peggy Gormley

Homeless Woman

Maurice Tyson

Homeless Guy

Jaimie McVittie

Little Girl On Bridge

Jenni Squair

Elevator Lady

Lia Salmond

Elevator Lady

Ellen Ewusie

Elevator Lady

Ylenia Aurucci

Elevator Lady

Michelle Zembruski

Elevator Lady

Kathleen Mullan

Elevator Lady

Georgia Dewson

Elevator Lady

Sienna Rose

Storm's Fan

Hector A. Leguillow

Newsstand Vendor

Ben Mulroney

Etalk Daily CTV

Terry David Mulligan

CityTV

Lauren Sánchez

KCOP / KTTV

Mark S. Allen

KMAX-TV(IND) Sacramento

Jon Brady

Fox Network News

Taryn Winter Brill

Aol.com

Sara Edwards

The Comcast Network

Heidi Eng

King-TV(NBC) Seattle

Jim Ferguson

ABC-KGUN 9-TV Tucson

Sam Hallenbeck

NBC Tampa

Mike Waco

Fox Network News

Marian Etoile Watson

UPN 9 / Fox

Richard Ho

Wizard: The Comics Magazine

Dave Holmes

Andrew Hunsaker

Yahoo Entertainment

Taylor Johnson

MSN.com

Bonnie Laufer-Krebs

Tribute TV

Lisa Fuller Magee

KTVK-TV(IND) Phoenix

Bret Martin

Fox 5 / WAGA Atlanta

Liam Mayclem

KRON-TV(IND) San Francisco

Scott Patrick

KUSA-TV(NBC) Denver

Shaheem Reid

MTV News

Sam Rubin

KTLA

Maria Salas

NBC Entertainment Reporter Miami

Devon Soltendieck

MuchMusic

Patrick Stoner

WHYY-TV Philadelphia

Lee Thomas

Fox 2 Detroit

Tony Toscano

Talking Pictures / KJZZ-TV(IND) Salt Lake City

Jennifer Lothrop

Lorna Joan Barrie

Woman on bridge (uncredited)

Doug Chapman

Fireman Hanging Off Bridge (uncredited)

Sean Bennett

Newsstand Pedestrian (uncredited)

Christopher Gordon

Fireman (uncredited)

Richard Rigby

Cafe Patron / Party Goer (uncredited)

Yvonne Myers

Principal (uncredited)

Ralph Winter

Ship Worker (uncredited)

Lynnanne Zager

Computer (voice) (uncredited)

Crew

Director

Tim Story

Comic Book

Stan Lee

Comic Book

Jack Kirby

Writer

Michael France

Writer

Mark Frost

Reviews

John Chard

March 1, 2020

Hello rock, this is me in between you and the hard place.

Reed Richards (Ioan Gruffudd), Sue Storm (Jessica Alba), Johnny Storm (Chris Evans), Ben Grimm (Michael Chiklis) & Victor Von Doom (Julian McMahon). All set off on a space mission that sees them engulfed by a mysterious storm that imbues them all with different special powers.

Fantastic Four is arguably the most loved on the page of the super-group comic book creations. Certainly it's Marvel's flagship offering in that corner of the super hero market. Odd then, that when it finally makes it to the big screen they throw money at it but employ the director of "The Firing Squad" & "Taxi"? The whole film reeks of nervousness, with director Tim Story either fearful of making a hash of said flagship movie, or worse still, being directed himself by studio executives fearful of making a hash of said flagship movie. While the casting of Gruffud (dull), Alba (cleavage for hire) and McMahon (out of his depth as a villain) beggars belief. Sloppy CGI fails to ignite what little action there is, while the final smack down as our intrepid 4 battle with Von Doom, is of a TV movie standard. Yet it still has a smidgen of fun about it to warrant investing a damp dark afternoon with.

Chiklis and Evans are the plus points, the former injecting a bit of heart into proceedings and the latter some sexiness and some much needed humour. There's also some worth in the script's attempt at messaging about the perils and pitfalls of celebrity status. While who can deny that the first appearance of "flame-on" & "clobbertime" doesn't induce an ickle tingle down the spine of the discerning comic book fan (ok that may just be me hankering for my youth). If only the film wasn't so safe and had been in better hands. But hey! the film turned over a $230 million Worldwide profit, so what do I know eh? The sequel was inevitable, so one can only hope that with the same people involved they not only learn from their guardedness, but that they manage to stay faithful to the source and give it some much needed pizazz.

Footnote: The extended cut at twenty minutes longer, suffice to say, is a better experience as it has more pizazz. So 5/10 for the theatrical cut and 6/10 for the extended version.