Digital camera….$250. Memory stick…..$59. The look on your hard-ass former C.O.’s face when he finds out he’s your junior pilot ….priceless….as Jason’s Movie Blog’s heads back to revisit the superhero film of in his cinematic flashback for Marvel’s 2005 Fantastic Four.
FANTASTIC FOUR
“Prepare for the fantastic”
Director: Tim Story
Writer: Mark Frost and Michael France
Starring: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, and Julian McMahon
Run Time: 106 Minutes
Release Date: July 8th, 2005
Rated: PG-13
THE STORY
Yearning to study the massive clouds of cosmic energy in the vast space, the brilliant physicist, Dr. Reed Richards (Ioan Gruffudd), enlists the help of his millionaire classmate, Dr Victor von Doom (Julian McMahon) to help fund the project to do so. Unfortunately, Instead, the unfathomable energy source affects Reed and the team sent up there, turning him into the elastic “Mr Fantastic”; Victor’s assistant, Sue Storm (Jessica Alba), becomes the “Invisible Girl”; her hot-blooded younger brother, Johnny Storm (Chris Evans), is now the flaming “Human Torch”, and lastly, pilot Ben Grimm (Michael Chilkilis) transforms into the temperamental mass of rocks and muscles known as “The Thing”. But, from the black void of space, humankind’s arch-enemy arrives. Faced with personal challenges, public opinion, and increasingly hostile Victor, who too is affected by the cosmic energy, can this new team of superhero individuals thwart the destructive plans of the mysterious Dr. Doom?
MY THOUGHTS
I remember when Fantastic Four first hit theaters in the summer of 2005. I was there—eager, curious, and excited to see something fresh in the ever-growing world of superheroes. Beyond a few reruns of the old cartoon series, I didn’t know much about the characters. But that made the experience all the more intriguing. With X-Men and Spider-Man already having blazed a trail, it was exciting to see 20th Century Fox and Marvel branch out, offering something different, something more lighthearted and team-centric. I was craving new heroes, and Fantastic Four delivered a group that felt both classic and unfamiliar. Now, nearly twenty years later, with The Fantastic Four: First Steps on the horizon, I decided it was time to revisit this film and see if it still holds up.
Directed by Tim Story, known for Barbershop, Think Like a Man, and Ride Along, Fantastic Four wears its mid-2000s identity proudly. Released three years before Iron Man launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this film stands as a pre-MCU relic: colorful, quirky, and undeniably flawed, yet brimming with charm. There’s a real sense of fun Story brings to the project. The movie focuses on four individuals thrust together by cosmic fate, learning to embrace their powers, each other, and the idea of becoming a family. It’s this emotional through-line that gives Fantastic Four its heart, even when the storytelling doesn’t always stick the landing.
To its credit, Story and his team honor the source material by faithfully capturing the core traits of each character. Reed Richards is the overreaching intellect, always trying to grasp more than he can hold. Sue Storm struggles with invisibility, not just literally, but emotionally, especially in her relationships. Johnny Storm is the cocky, impulsive hotshot. And Ben Grimm, beneath his rocky exterior, carries the deepest emotional wounds. Even Victor Von Doom’s descent into villainy is laced with ambition, ego, and a hunger for power, echoing his comic book roots. In many ways, this film felt like a precursor to how Marvel would later approach origin stories in Captain America: The First Avenger and beyond.
Visually, the movie captures the vibe of its time. The production design, costumes, and set pieces are all serviceable, and the overall aesthetic screams early-2000s blockbuster. One standout element is The Thing’s practical suit, which, while dated by today’s standards, still looks impressive and grounded. It was a smart decision to go practical rather than CGI. Cinematographer Oliver Wood infuses the film with glossy superhero flair, while John Ottman’s score hits all the right heroic beats, uplifting when it needs to be, subtle when it counts.
But Fantastic Four is far from perfect. The visual effects, even for its era, are hit-or-miss. Reed’s stretching powers, in particular, feel awkward and clunky, breaking immersion during key moments. There’s also a persistent layer of cheesiness that clings to the dialogue and tone, something characteristic of superhero movies from that era, yet still distracting. Some narrative threads feel underdeveloped, likely casualties of post-production cuts, and much of the action is reserved for the third act, making the pacing feel uneven. Doom’s transformation is rushed, robbing him of the menace and mystique that such an iconic villain deserves.
Where the film truly shines, however, is in its cast. Ioan Gruffudd (King Arthur and Harrow) brings just the right amount of intelligence and social awkwardness to Reed Richards. Jessica Alba (Dark Angel and Sin City), though often criticized for being miscast, does an adequate job as Sue Storm, stiff in some scenes, but not without moments of sincerity. Chris Evans, long before becoming Captain America, absolutely nails Johnny Storm (Knives Out and Lightyear). His performance oozes charisma, reckless energy, and comedic timing. Michael Chiklis (The Shield and The Commish), as Ben Grimm, is arguably the film’s emotional core. Beneath layers of prosthetic rock, he delivers the film’s most heartfelt moments, portraying Ben’s struggle with isolation and identity beautifully.
The chemistry between the four leads is undeniable. Despite the uneven script, they manage to sell the idea that these characters are growing into something more than a team, they’re becoming a family. Julian McMahon’s (Nip / Tuck and Charmed) portrayal of Victor Von Doom is a mixed bag, equal parts menacing and melodramatic, but it fits the film’s tone. He chews the scenery with delight, embracing the camp in ways that feel oddly satisfying.
Looking back, the legacy of Fantastic Four is a complicated one. The film received mixed-to-negative reviews upon release, but still managed to become a box office success, earning a sequel (Rise of the Silver Surfer) in 2007. That sequel, however, received a colder reception, and when Fox tried again with the 2015 reboot (Fant4stic), it ended in disaster. Now, with Marvel Studios taking the reins and rebooting the franchise within the MCU, all eyes are on The Fantastic Four: First Steps to see if the “First Family of Marvel” can finally get the cinematic treatment they deserve.
In the end, Fantastic Four (2005) gets more right than it gets wrong. It’s cheesy. It’s dated. And it doesn’t pack the same punch as today’s superhero heavyweights. But there’s heart here. There’s fun. There’s an earnestness that makes it easy to revisit. It’s a time capsule of pre-MCU superhero filmmaking, a charming, imperfect look at how four very different people learn to come together, embrace their powers, and become something more. It may not have changed the world, but for a generation of fans, it lit the flame.
Cinematic Flashback Score: 3.7 Out of 5
FUN FACT: Actor Michael Chiklis, the only one of four main actors already familiar with the “Fantastic Four” comic, and has been a devout fan of the Thing since childhood. He eagerly fought to have a “real” Thing rather than a computer-generated character. Chiklis wore 60 pounds of latex which took three hours to get into. To keep Chiklis cool in the suit, a rock was removed from his head and cold air was sprayed into the gap between the suit and the actor.
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