FILM REVIEW Fantastic Four

Cinema
Ciara Galvin

I’M going to have to put a disclaimer at the top of this latest review, as some friends and even colleagues have said I’m turning into the crankiest reviewer of all time.
I try to pick the newest release each week to make sure you get a peek into what the latest films on the big screen are like. So, what I’m really trying to say is: no, I don’t pick terrible films to review on purpose
With that said, we’ll move on swiftly to ‘Fantastic Four’. Another disclaimer: If you don’t want to read another negative film review turn page now.
In the movie industry, this film is referred to as a ‘reboot’. The Marvel Comics-inspired film, which stars Jessica Alba as Susan Storm and Ioan Gruffudd as Reed Richards, did well at the 2005 box office, but it failed to grab the attention of critics.
A sequel in 2007, ‘Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer’ also received mixed reviews. So, why did those clever film makers decide to make another one? For the money, of course.
In the first instalment of the 20th Century Fox franchise, friends Reed Richards, Susan Storm and the team travel to outer space to observe cosmic energy clouds, but following a miscalculation, they are all subjected to the exposure of outer space.
Once home, the effect of the exposure is immediate. Reed, dubbed ‘Mr Fantastic’, can stretch and contort his limbs to any length. Susan can turn invisible. Her brother, Johnny, has turned into a human fire ball, and Reed’s friend Ben Grimm is now ‘The Thing’, a colossal giant made from stone.
What’s new about the latest instalment? Quite frankly nothing. Well, other than the actors. None of the original cast stars. Reed Richards is played by Miles Teller, and Susan Storm is played by ‘House of Cards’ actress Kate Mara (who really just plays reporter Zoe from the aforementioned Netflix show). Jamie Bell of ‘Billy Elliott’ fame plays Ben Grimm, and Susan’s brother Johnny is played by Michael B Jordan.
The group get their powers this time by transporting to an alternate universe, a project that recluse Victor von Doom (Toby Kebbel) had been working on, but the project was only realised through the work of Reed and friend Ben.
How the group come together is down to Professor Franklin Storm, who runs a research institute for young scientists and who is also father to Susan and Johnny. The professor is played by Reg E Cathey, also of House of Cards fame (auditions must have taken place after the season finale of the show).
Without getting into too much detail about the ‘how’ and the ‘why’, the team returns from the alternate universe and is immediately put on lockdown. Unlike the debut film, the team members don’t interact with each other. Nor do they continuously save people and the world. Some of the group are seen as America’s newest weapons for war. Perfecting their new-found powers is focused on heavily.  
The comic relief is seriously lacking in this reboot. One would assume his is a strategy designed to set it apart from its predecessors. It doesn’t work and makes for a snore-fest in which the character’s individual personalities are not explored.
What did I learn from this film? Well, I found out I have my own superpower – the ability to stay awake during the most mundane of films.

Rating 2 out of 10

Rating 2 out of 10