Fantastic Four
Dir: Josh Trank
2015
***
Josh Trank's 2015 Fantastic Four was doomed well before it was released and rather unfairly in my opinion. I don't believe this is 100% the version Trank wanted, indeed he has stated so, but even with production meddling and executive cold feet, there is plenty to celebrate. I wasn't that enamored by Trank's debut hit Chronicle but the somewhat realistic approach at the route of that film's success worked brilliantly with the Fantastic Four. The origin story of the Four superheroes is a bit hamy and screams 60's cheese, the kind we all love but the also the kind that doesn't always age well. It was right to freshen up this story and by having the Four (well, five) travel between dimensions instead of through space, as the original idea that a space scientist can just invite his buddies along on a test flight just doesn't really work anymore and real astronauts are usually much older and not particularly interesting (I've met a few, no offense to any of them but none of them were Johnny Storm). I loved that they traveled into another dimension because they were drunk and the idea that Sue Storm (the sensible one) didn't but instead got contaminated in rescuing them. It was a perfect re-write, as is most of the film, from how they all meet, how they learn to use their powers and particularly how they learn of their powers. The scene whereby Mr Fantastic learns of his ability to stretch is as horrific as it really would be and is a highlight of the film. Previous film adaptations have skipped all of these important events or have made light of them. Trank's version does neither and is stronger because of it. I'm not completely sold on the casting of the film but they did grow on me and I thought both Miles Teller and Toby Kebbell were perfect. My biggest criticism is on script. It's awful. I challenge anyone not to cringe during the final 'What shall we call ourselves?' scene. The acting is also not always perfect, particularly from the younger members of the cast. It is also rather unexciting at times. I liked the realness of the story but it really was a couple of action scenes short of a superhero/comic movie. Still, you have to start somewhere and the origin story is vital. Box ticked. Now lets get on with the franchise, let's see the team fight someone other than Dr Doom because as good as this version was, the franchise needs new villains, The Frightful Four would be a good place to start in my humble opinion. The comics were rebooted long ago and current issues are examples of some of the best writing in the medium for many years, if the films follow suit then this could be the beginning of something wonderful. I can only hope the nervous and unimaginative producers can see the errors they made here and let the creatives do their thing.