Fantastic Four 2

I wasn’t really planning on writing a review on this film before I watched it, but it’s actually pretty good review fodder for a variety of reason. So...

I was pretty surprised when I heard that this sequel was in the works. The first film was competent but workmanlike, and primarily suffered from a misinterpretation of the basic premise of the Fantastic Four. Namely, it positions them as science fiction heroes rather than adventurers. It’s admittedly only a very vague distinction, but it nonetheless is a different subgenre. As the film stands, it belongs in the same group as Flash Gordon; the Fantastic Four should be more like Indiana Jones.

But the sequel is stuck with this interpretation, and tries to make the most of it. Unsurprisingly and logically given the above re-interpretation, the choice for our science heroes’ foe in this film is the Silver Surfer/Galactus combo. The image of the Silver Surfer lends itself to the screen, and the impressive CGI renders the character superbly. Galactus is only shown, however, as a swirling black cloud, which is probably for the best. His comic book design is preposterous and ugly. It was best avoided.

As for the plot, it varies widely. The basic idea of a galactic threat is handled well and Silver Surfer turning up as the herald, his subsequent bonding with Sue (who is still horribly miscast), and final sacrifice to save the planet is all fine. It’s in the peripherals that the film runs into problems. Principle amongst these is the return of Doom, the first film’s villain, without any explanation after his apparent death. The subplot with him stealing the Surfer’s board is embarrassing fanfic at best, though it does intersect with The Human Torch’s arc where he comes through for the team and stops going into business for himself, which at least ranks as character development. Of all the characters, The Thing is probably the one character who gets sidelined, but given that stories that focus on him tend toward the maudlin, perhaps that’s for the best.

The other aspect of the film that doesn’t sit well with me is the emphasis on the team as celebrities. This seems to me like an attempt the make it fit into the current reality TV and tabloid obsessed culture, and I feel making the film more timeless would have been a better strategy. Nonetheless, the film is superior to its predecessor. But still doesn’t come close to tapping the potential of the franchise.