Fantastic Four doesnt live up to name

Thursday, July 14, 2005

There really isnt much that is fantastic about the new film Fantastic Four a dopey adaptation of the popular comic book franchise that pales in comparison to the recent Batman Begins and Spider-Man.

Fantastic Four suffers from being a film that cant decide whether it wants to cater to kids or adults failing on both levels. Its so bad it should have been called The Crap-tastic Four.

The film tells the story of a group of scientists that gain super powers after passing through a freak cosmic storm while on a voyage in outer space.

Their newfound powers are met with different reactions. Johnny Storm (Chris Evans) immediately accepts his new fame as the Human Torch.

Sue Storm (Jessica Alba), the Invisible Woman, and Reed Richards (Ioan Gruffudd), who has the ability to stretch his body into any shape, are more reluctant while Ben Grimm (Michael Chiklis), who morphs into a rock-like creature known as the Thing, is desperate to return to normal.

But all must unite when a fifth member of the crew Victor Von Doom (Julian McMahon) opts to use his powers for evil purposes.

Fantastic Four was directed by Tim Story whose previous work includes Taxi and Barbershop. Not surprisingly, Story doesnt bring much to the table except for some silly action sequences. The film doesnt have the look of a big budget summer blockbuster, and feels more like an FX movie of the week.

The acting isnt much better. Gruffudd is very bland, Alba regresses back to her Honey days, while Evans takes annoying to a new level. Only Chiklis seems to be having fun although a subplot in which the Thing develops a romance with a blind woman is beyond absurd.

Fantastic Four has its built-in audience, as evident by its huge opening weekend, but it will be interesting to see how much the numbers drop in week two.

Discount dandy of the week

This weeks discount dandy is the Jennifer Lopez-Jane Fonda comedy Monster In-Law (B-) a film that has taken a lot of harsh criticism, but if you go in with low expectations (like I did), you might be pleasantly surprised.

Lopez plays Charlie, a free-spirit who gets engaged to a successful doctor (Michael Vartan), much to the dismay of his mother, Viola (Fonda).

Viola is intent on doing whatever it takes to prevent the marriage. Eventually Charlie has enough of Violas interference and decides to fight back.

If you are looking for a film with depth and character development, Monster-In-Law is probably not the film for you. Still, I couldnt help but enjoy most of the slapstick situations.

Fonda, in her first film in 15 years, and Lopez play well off each other. There is also a very funny supporting performance from Wanda Sykes as Fondas longtime assistant. When Sykes is on the screen, Monster-In-Law really soars, but even when she isnt, the film proves to be more enjoyable than it should have been.

Monster In-Law opens Friday at the Plaza 6, where all movies are $1.50.

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