THE FANTASTIC FOUR
Michael Chiklis, Chris Evans, Jessica Alba,
Loan Gruffudd, Julian McMahon
Director:
PG
 |
THE
FANTASTIC FOUR
MOVIE REVIEW
The original superhero team have hit the screens and what's more, truly
live up to their names and hype.
With more special effects than grand night out at EPCOT, this is a slick paced, funny, well-acted thrill fest that will keep kids and adults enthralled throughout its ninety minute running time.
The four scientists, Reed Richards (Gruffudd),
Sue Storm (Alba) her brother Johnny (Evans) and Ben Grimm (Chiklis),
are sent into space alongside egocentric boss Victor von Doom (McMahon),
to see how life on earth began. A freak storm, however, reacts with
their DNA and graces them with special powers. One becomes a human torch,
another can stretch like rubber, one has invisibility at will and the
fourth has amazing strength and a terrible complexion. Naturally, von
Doom isn't a nice guy to be around.
Unlike other Superhero flicks,
the pace simply refuses to let up. From full - blown action sequences,
to witty one-liners, usually delivered by Evans, your eyes cannot
leave the screen for a second. And as for badness personified, McMahon
excels. Also unusual for such CGI generated fantasies, the effects are
mind-bogglingly realistic and shy away from the tacky at every turn.
As for the acting, well its as if the
cast were born for their roles and the only let down is that Jessica
Alba turns bashful when crossing the Brooklyn Bridge. Gruffudd,
meanwhile, will surely now become a household name in Hollywood, after
more or less supporting roles beforehand in films such as 101 Dalmations.
His geeky sincerity in playing Richards - or Doctor Fantastic
- is both endearing and exceedingly human, without ever becoming wooden.
As for Evans & Chiklis, as a double act they should hit the stage
rather than each other, as they seem to have a natural chemistry that
works and works well.
This film is fun. It's not going to
win any awards, but does it pretend that it will? No. Made to entertain,
it does just that and leaves the somewhat staid, slow pace of Spiderman
/ Batman/ Superman / Daredevil trailing a long way behind. Cheesy it
maybe, but what else would anybody expect from a comic book storyline?
To coin a cliché, this is a movie that is truly Fantastic.
4/5
Vue
Cinema Birkenhead
Chris High would like
to recommend your nearest Vue Cinema
break the rules as I see fit.” - Chris High 2003.