Fantastic Four (2015)

In recent years Marvel has built a reputation when it comes to superhero movies. Not only are they financially very successful, the average quality also is very high. The audience is looking forward to new superhero movies in the “Marvel Cinematic Universe” and although the Marvel logo is the thing that appears on screen this is not a film that was made by Marvel Studios. The rights to the Fantastic Four are in fact owned by 20th Century Fox (like Sony owns the rights to Spiderman) and to ensure that they would not fall back to Marvel made a new film. Not a third part to the amusing (though not exceptional) first two films, but a reboot.

A reboot of course means a new “origin story” (something I’m slowly getting tired of ). Reed Richards ( Miles Teller ) is a child that doesn´t fit in. He dreams about inventions which his physics teacher tells him are impossible, but nevertheless he continues to develop. Eventually this leads to a teleportation machine. He improves his design and years later at the “science fair” which is visited by Dr.Franklin Storm (Reg E. Cathey) and Sue Storm (Kate Mara) he presents it. They have engaged in the development of teleportation for years and Reed is the missing link they need to make the project a success. He decides to agree on their offer to be part of their team which he does together with Victor von Doom (Toby Kebbell) and Johnny Storm (Michael B. Jordan). The first tests go well, but when the army threatens to take over their project the young scientists (along with a friend of Reed) decide to try the machine. They end up in another world and when something unexpected happens the various members of the group gain strange powers.

Director Josh Trank previously made the interesting Chronicle, about teenagers who suddenly got super powers. Therefore, it doesn’t seem like a big step to do the same with a group of young scientists who will eventually become the Fantastic Four. However, the end result is a film which doesn’t completely work. The build-up to the accident that gives them their powers is very long and when the four eventually get them the movie gets into “body horror” mode, where it is shocking to see Johnny Storm burning and Reed Richards with elongated limbs. But unfortunately not enough is done with that and suddenly the movie decides to have a year pass and we see everyone is suddenly fine with their powers.

The expectation of a superhero film is at least quite a bit of action and there is very little of that in Fantastic Four. A fight at the end of the film is the only one, but it feels tacked on and isn’t convincing, making it feel separate from the rest of the story. The Fantastic Four is a frustrating film to watch and despite all the acting talent present. 20th Century Fox and director Josh Trank have made various statements before the release of the film talking about why the film is so disappointing, but that does not change the end result. Although there probably will be a second part, I secretly hope that the rights will return to Marvel again, which probably would do a better job telling the story.