The Fantastic Parts first.
Style: Oh it’s gorg. A retro-futuristic art direction is gonna do it for me every time (do we have a live action Jetsons movie? can we get one??). The attention to detail is outstanding, from the cut of the dresses to the font choices on the buttons in the space shuttle. You know which time period of America we’re sitting in even from the way the futuristic elements are firmly rooted in 1960s technology.
Acting: You can cast Vanessa Kirby in anything and she’s gonna steal the show. The big rock is super charming and Johnny has the best parts of Robert Downey Jr. without being annoying, because he’s also shooting for Tom Hanks likability. And y’all’s daddy Pedro was good too.
Special Effects: I felt like I was really in space! Very smart to have a literal Space Race slap in the middle of this movie given all we know about space in the 60s from 5th grade history class. Do I believe some of that would ever work even in the context of the science they set up? Absolutely not, but we’ve seen Apollo 13 enough times to get the general concept of a slingshot.
The Not Fantastic Parts.
Women Passing Out: I’m tired of the Thinking Ladies tapping into their extra reserves and then passing out right after. Jean Grey, Scarlett Witch, Sue Storm — one thing about them: they will pass out after showing how strong they are. I guess technically Sue is not in the Thinking Ladies category, but I’m comparing her to male superheroes with active physicality. So many female superheroes just hold their arms out and make faces.
Forced Plot Development: If part of your plot or your Heroes Are The Best Of Us moment is only able to come to fruition because the smartest man on the planet has to say the stupidest thing in the world at a press conference, then you need to re-write that. I wanted to slap Reed through the screen — and you’ll know exactly where it is when you see it.
Women In Love with a Superhero: Thing, Spiderman, Superman, Thor — do female superheroes ever catch the attention of a random man who will look past their flaws? It’s always some mooney-eyed civilian lady who is going to ignore everything wrong with the dude.
Babies: I don’t need any more babies in any more action movies ever. I have had ENOUGH. And I have also had enough “look how incompetent the men are with the baby” scenarios to last me the rest of my life.
Conclusion
It’s fun! Solidly mid-tier. Granted, I do not care about the Fantastic Four or anyone in this movie, but I could say the same about Thunderbolts and THAT slapped. So it’s not giving “must see,” but I’m satisfied enough.
Score: 3.5 / 5
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