The Fantastic Four and the cinematic medium do not seem to go well together; there is something irksome preventing the iconic foursome from making it big, and it's not quite clear what, exactly, that is. They're a lot "wackier" than some of the cinematic superheroes these days, yes, but then there's Guardians Of The Galaxy - certified proof that, in the right hands, it's entirely possible to make a fun, loopy, weird and funny superhero picture. The truth is that Fantastic Four should have opted for a far lighter tone than it ultimately did (though not as light - or as broad - as those Chris Evans/Jessica Alba travesties), resulting in a picture that felt knowing and fun like the X-Men films (which are purported to be set in the same cinematic universe and yet the world glimpsed in Trank's movie shares absolutely nothing in common with it). It's too bleak; too cynical; too self-hating - ashamed, even. And as a result, it's the third attempt to start a Fantastic Four franchise that just hasn't worked at all. Embarrassingly, it even feels like a step backwards - a movie far worse than the ones made in 2005 and 2007, which is really saying something. The message here, though, seems to be more than: "The Fantastic Four don't work on film." It seems to suggest that audiences aren't all that interested in watching a Fantastic Four flick. If you were a producer (or a major) studio, would you really invest your money in another Fantastic Four movie? What would be the point? Why take the risk? You'd see the results so far, and you'd say: "Uh-uh. Not a wise move, that one." As a result, it seems very, very unlikely that they'll be another Fantastic Four movie for a long, long time - if at all. The property has beaten Hollywood; even the mess of Spider-Man looks good by comparison. Like this article? Agree or disagree with these points? Think Fantastic Four is a lot better than the critics are giving it credit for? Let us know in the comments section below.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
