There aren’t many comic book properties that seem to be more cursed than the Fantastic Four, as there have been several attempts to bring Marvel’s “First Family” to the big screen that simply have not worked. Despite the depth of the source material that could be used for inspiration, the Fantastic Four franchise has struggled to find the right blend between heart, humor, and action that fans had expected. Although Tim Story’s two Fantastic Four films were met with rather scathing reviews when the first debuted, they certainly look much better in comparison to the disastrous 2015 reboot from Josh Trank. 2005’s Fantastic Four does a great job at examining the complex dynamic between Reed Richard and Ben Grimm, thanks in no small part to the excellent chemistry between Ioan Gruffuddand Michael Chiklis.
‘Fantastic Four’ Nails Ben Grimm and Reed Richards
The friendship between Ben and Reed is instrumental within every iteration of the comic books, as Stan Lee envisioned the two characters as being lifelong friends that share a common interest in science. Although Fantastic Four makes some leaps of logic when it comes to the actual science involved with giving the characters their powers, it does emphasize that the mission was a result of a mutual sense of trust between Ben and Reed. After realizing that the world will not accept him once he is transformed into “The Thing,” Ben turns on Reed and blames him for the accident. Fantastic Four does have a fair amount of comedy, but the scenes involving Ben trying to adjust to his new life as a “monster” are surprisingly affecting. It is emphasized that even though Reed has also struggled with the new responsibilities that he is saddled with, he is determined not to let his best friends down.
Ben’s willingness to accept himself and forgive Reed is the emotional core of Fantastic Four, as the film does emphasize the theme of “found family” that was integral to the characters. It is because Reed is so determined to find a way to cure their powers that he becomes easily manipulated by Victor Von Doom (Julian McMahon), who plots to take them out one by one. After Ben decides to use the machine to give up his powers, he is helpless to prevent Reed from being frozen, and nearly killed. It’s a heartbreaking moment, but it makes it even more powerful when Ben decides to once again become “The Thing” and take down Doom. Even if it was initially an action taken purely to help his best friend, Ben is able to understand that New York City accepts him for who he is, and finds a newfound sense of pride.
Tim Story’s ‘Fantastic Four’ Honors the Comics
The performances from Gurffudd and Chiklis are both very strong, as both actors seem to understand the blend of emotional authenticity and cheeky self-awareness that are required for an admittedly cheesy pair of comic book films. While there is a lot of affection for Chris Evans’ over-the-top performance as Johnny Storm, especially after his hilarious cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine, the films would not have worked if all of the actors were trying to land jokes. Gruffudd and Chiklis are saddled with the responsibility of being role models, as they understand that the powers that they are granted should be used for the goodness of others. The action in the two Fantastic Four films may look rather quaint when compared to the set pieces that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has proven itself capable of, but both entries show a keen eye for what heroism really is.
The dynamic between Reed and Ben changes over the course of the two films, as they are far more playful with each other in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Although Ben has begun to enjoy the fact that he is now a celebrity, he also understands that Reed has a legitimate reason to consider leaving the group so that he can start a family with Sue (Jessica Alba). Watching Reed come to the same conclusion that Ben did in the first film made for a nice way to close the story, even if a third installment in the series was unfortunately never made. They may have been dismissed as bombs, but Story’s Fantastic Four films understood how to write two of the most beloved characters in Marvel’s history, and thankfully had actors that seemed equally passionate about the material.
