Retro Review: Fantastic Four (2005)

Fantastic Four

2005

Cast: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, Julian McMahon, Kerry Washington 

Genre: Superhero

Worldwide Box Office Gross: over $333 million 

Plot: A group of astronauts gain superpowers after a cosmic radiation exposure and must use them to oppose the plans of their enemy, Doctor Victor Von Doom 

'Solid Adaptation & Far from The Drubbing It Received in 2005'

As the 1990s became the noughties/00s, the age of the Marvel cinematic universe began, starting with Blade in 1998 starring Wesley Snipes, X-Men followed suit in 2000 with then-unknowns Halle Berry and Hugh Jackman: the financial success of the X-Men movies catapulted their statuses. But it was 2002's Spider-Man that broke the $100 million barrier. Fox's gamble on the X-Men paid off and they then turned their attention to the Fantastic Four. 2005's Fantastic Four became the second live-action Fantastic Four. A number of directors flirted with the idea of taking on the most famous superhero family - those included Chris Columbus (well known for Home Alone and Mrs. Doubtfire), who under Avi Arad and Ralph Winter's production was hired by Fox to write AND direct the Fantastic Four, way back in 1995, and Payton Reed, the latter who went on to take on the realms of Marvel's Ant-Man, - before it settled on Tim Story- whose previous success was with 2002's Ice Cube and Cedric the Entertainer comedy, Barbershop. 

Fox's initial first choice for Sue Storm was Rachel McAdams (The Notebook and Dr Strange), whereas Payton Reed wanted Charlize Theron for the female role and have Paul Walker (The Fast & the Furious) playing Sue's brother, Johnny Storm. Alexis Denisof (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) as Reed, John C. Reily as Ben Grimm/The Thing and Jude Law as Victor Von Doom rounded up the initial casting. Under Tim Story's direction, the casting became of that of Welsh actor, Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba - off the back of dance drama, Honey -, then unknown Chris Evans in his first comic book movie role and Michael Chiklis of FX cop drama, The Shield. Chiklis in latex, as opposed to CGI, as the Thing looked all right. Rounding up the cast was Australian actor, Julian McMahon who, much like with Chiklis, was achieving success on the small screen in Nip/Tuck as Christian Troy. Dr Doom was the biggest weak spot; despite being the main villain, he was neither imposing nor could be taken seriously as one. 

Back in 2018, I commented on and reviewed 2015's iteration of Fantastic Four, which was and still stands as one of the worst superhero films of all-time. With that being said, and given the vitriol 2005's movie received, I had to revisit this one thoroughly this time around to see if it is that bad. Well, surprisingly, I found it to be enjoyable in places and somehow, the casting worked - though in contrast to the 2015 Fantastic Four, there seemed to be a bit more charm with this one and is a tad more entertaining than I'd thought it would be. 

There were aspects of the story that didn't hold up all the way through, and the characters lack that something to make them stand out amongst other superheroes such as the X-Men, The Avengers; yet in Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis, they were by far the standouts in the entire film. It was really interesting to see Evans as Johnny Storm aka The Human Torch and pre-Captain America and before he became really big; when you give an actor like Evans a character with a big personality to back up his skills and abilities when it comes to the action elements, you can see him come to life, and as a result, he excels as a character actor. He demonstrated this in the indie fare, The Losers, as Captain America and in the first big Fantastic Four movie. 

However, Jessica Alba and Ioan Gruffudd's roles seem underwritten and underwhelming, as much as they try to do their best in their performances. Along with Evans, Chiklis, it at least to me it felt like I could buy into them onscreen as a team and as a family. I still take this Fantastic Four over the 2015 casting, which looked out of sorts and had no chemistry, no charm, no synergy. The dialogue, in this one, is a give and take thing, and whilst it lacks style, the turns by Evans and Chiklis just about keep the Fantastic Four together, - and just about. 

The mid-2000s special effects via the $100 million budget, are still decent to this day, and honestly, as a whole, it wasn't too bad as a film; I had fun with it and went along for the ride, and it was fairly solid and enjoyable. 

Final Verdict:

It's definitely not a complete bomb as a film as critics have stated at the time of its release and today as it has its bright spots; it embraces the spectacle aspect that is found in movies such as this and goes out of its way to entertain. 

2015's Fantastic Four has nothing, and I say absolutely nothing, on this one. 

Overall: