Grade: C | Genre: Action Summary: So the Fantastic Four isn't quite as fantastic as some had hoped, but it could have been a lot worse. It has its moments, but falls short of being anything substantial. I think we have been flooded to the point of complete saturation with film adaptations of comic books. When we start featuring little known characters like the Punisher and Daredevil, you know the well is getting a bit dry. I'm still waiting for Wonder Woman myself, which oddly enough is being written up as we speak a Google search just told me. This spin around the merry-go-round, we get Marvel's latest batch of super human freaks, the Fantastic Four. They are very similar to the mutant X-men, which you've no doubt heard a little about thanks to Bryan Singer and Hugh Jackman. The Fantastic Four are four individuals who's DNA is beautifully mangled to award them special powers whose only limits seem to exist on the comic book pages.

We meet this assortment of characters as Reed Richards (Gruffudd) calls on his old college rival Victor Von Doom (McMahon) to ask for his help in Reed's latest scientific venture. There is a cosmic storm that is approaching Earth that Reed theorizes simulates the conditions when life was first formed on the planet. He plans to study the phenomenon, playing the human genetic makeup to solve diseases and take giant leaps forward in human knowledge and understanding. Von Doom just wants the satisfaction of his old MIT chum groveling before him, not to mention the lion's share of whatever profits the venture brings.

Fantastic Four Starring: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Michael Chiklis, Chris Evans & Julian McMahon Director: Tim Story View the Trailer (Quicktime) Email this article to a friend Wicked Tickets Find Sold Out Theatre Tickets To the Hottest Shows on Broadway www.VandelayTickets.com Curves Buford Discover a Gym Where Women Can Change their Lives 30 Minutes at a Time www.curvesbuford.com Curves Discover a Gym Where Women Can Change their Lives 30 Minutes at a Time www.curves.com

Circumstance releases them out into the wild as they get to try out their new powers in real time. They're not always successful as is we see when Johnny forgets how to fly in mid-air and Susan forgets her invisible paint once she's fully stripped down to her best Victoria Secret's. Our dynamic quartet isn't the only one who got a new set of built-in toys. Dr. Doom is slowly being taken over by metal as he learns to harness electricity. His powers are too much for any of the four, or even three, of them combined. Only skillfully using all of their powers in unison do they stand a chance of blocking Doom's unquenchable thirst for world domination.

While this is a fairly entertaining film is does have its fair share of flaws. The largest problem is the story. They spend so long building how they all got their powers, that the actual struggle with Doom is appended to the end like an afterthought. It's so unsatisfying. It also falls prey to a lot of the cliches and the one off catch phrases that seem the staples of these films aimed at 11-year-old boys. The positives come in the character's strengths. Chris Evans brings a lot of comedic flavor to the mix as the ladies man extraordinaire and perpetual thrill seeker. He's constantly lightening the dour mood. Michael Chilklis shows good depth as the Thing, dealing with the struggles of morphing into a human rock. Jessica Alba brings new meaning to the term sexy fueling the fires of both Reed and Doom. She proves my theory that glasses on a woman can be extremely enticing if worn correctly. Jessica wears the crap out of those babies.

So the Fantastic Four isn't quite as fantastic as some had hoped, but it could have been a lot worse. It has its moments, but falls short of being anything substantial. If you are looking for a comic adaptation for a good dose of meat on its bones, take in the savory Batman Begins. If you want a no-brainer to pass the time, Fantastic Four is here to suck up that two hours of your life and leave you no worse for the wear.