Cast: Chris Evan’s as Johnny Storm, Jessica Alba as Sue Storm, Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm, Ioan Gruffudd as Reed Richard’s, Julian McMahon as Victor Von Doom, and Kerry Washington as Alicia.

Written By: Mark Frost (the Greatest Game Ever Played), Michael France (Cliffhanger, Goldeneye), based on the comic created by Stan lee

Directed By: Tim Story (Ride Along)

Notable producers:Avi Arad, Chris Columbus, Kevin Feige Stan Lee

Original Score By: John Ottman (the usual suspects, X2)

Studio: 20th century Fox

Release Year: 2005

runtime: 106 minutes

Rated PG-13

Audio description produced By: Deluxe

Written By:

Narrated By: Jedidiah Barton

What Is It?: the first big screen adaptation of Marvel’s first family is an origin story explaining how a group of friends were impacted while in space by an anomaly that altered their genetic structure giving them unique powers.Reed Richard’s becomes Mr fantastic, capable of stretching his body to extreme lengths. Sue storm becomes the Invisible Woman, with not just invisibility powers, but also able to create shields.Johnny Storm becomes the Human Torch, and can light himself on fire, is flame retardant so it doesn’t hurt him, and can fly. Ben Grimm morphs into a hard rock covered behemoth referred to as the Thing in the comics, but mostly as Ben in the film. And their fifth member, victor Von Doom becomes able to manipulate electricity, and his instinct is not to use his powers for good, but as Dr. Doom. Can the Fantastic Four defeat their former colleague?

Why it Works: many would argue it doesn’t. It feels trapped in a different time, before the Marvel Cinematic Universe, when comic book films resembled comics. Fantastic four followed other Marvel heroes like Spider-Man, x-Men, daredevil, Blade, The Punisher, and even Electra who all got film adaptations before them. Heck, we made it through finding out what would happen if Ang lee directed Hulk, and that really took the idea of comic books too seriously. the same year as Fantastic Four, Christopher Nolan would change the trajectory and tone of the superhero genre with Batman Begins, which spelled the beginning of the end for the early 2000’s superhero vibe. But that doesn’t mean this movie is a failure.

Now, having seen all Fantastic iterations, except the one they don’t want you to see, I still think this film got a lot right. Chris Evan’s is a blast as human Torch. He adds levity, he’s fun, and knows how to be a scene stealer. Later versions make johnny too serious, and suck the fun out of him and the Fantastic Four. Michael Chiklis is still a great Ben Grimm. we see him before his transformation, so we connect to who Ben is, and his post-mutation has more heart than Jamie Bell’s version, but is also tougher than Ebon Moss Bachrach.

And I fully admit Robert Downey jr is about to crush Doctor Doom, but Julian McMahon is great at giving you just enough of that smarmy attitude. he would have been excellent on Mad Men. he feels classy, and elevated, and desperate to cling onto everything he’s gotten or taken.

Tim Story starts this film with Reed explaining the doomed mission, and then we go into it. For the first of the Fantastic films, it does an excellent job of introducing all characters, their relationships, and showing us the catalyst that leads to their transformation. I’m willing to go to bat for this, still, and say it is the best adaptation. Other films are too afraid to do any light material, so they end up with darker, bleaker, and across the board. The most levity in First Steps comes from H.E.R.B.I.E.

What Doesn’t Work: Ioan Gruffudd is one of the most boring choices for Reed Richard’s. His career never took off because he feels like any non-specific result of a casting call for “white guy, handsome enough”. I didn’t love Miles Teller, and Pedro Pascal isn’t perfect, but Gruffudd is the weak link here. Jessica Alba is also a really odd choice considering the implication that she has some scientific knowledge. later iterations go out of their way to cast smarter women Kate MAra and Vanessa Kirby. considering fan casting for this duo was John Krasinski and Emily Blunt, and I’ve seen all three, I believe that is the best. the few minutes we get with Krasinski in Multiverse of Madness was enough to sell me that he was the right Reed Richard’s.

And then we have Alicia. blind representation on behalf of Kerry Washington. The blind part of me wants to go rotten just in the scene where she’s molesting Ben Grimm’s face. I have never felt anyone’s face.I’ve never been like “can I rub my sweaty palms on your makeup so I can smear it?” And the weird thing, feeling people… it isn’t a uniquely blind stereotype. some people always have people rubbing their hair. I always have close cropped hair, and every once in a while, someone pets me like a dog. But, I still hate that scene. I’m also not thrilled to have a sighted actress in this role, or the optics that a blind woman would date a giant rock formation. I’m so confused by the messaging on this. Part of it is kind of sweet, but then in First Steps, Ben just has a girlfriend who instead of being blind, is just barely ever on screen.

I also have to say, from my sighted days, the VFX on Mr fantastic are dreadful. I’m not sure he’ll ever look great on camera.

Tim Story’s version isn’t long, doesn’t overstay its welcome, and presents an easy and uncomplicated story to follow. it is a solid introduction to a group that just never went anywhere.

I’m also cognizant of the fact that this is a film that predates my blindness, and perhaps I enjoy it more because of that. If tht were true, then everything I’ve seen in the last eight years would pale to whatever came before it. And that simply isn’t the case. This is just a rare occasion where I actually do like this, even if no one else does.

The Audio Description: It’s Deluxe and Jedidiah Barton, and having been able to see this, there wasn’t a moment I thought they missed the boat. Deluxe makes consistently solid work, and Barton is a great choice for this. It’s a solid package. The only thing any audio description could do differently is talk about the wonky visual effects, but that isn’t the job of audio description to judge the quality of something.

Why You Might Like it: this is one I’m in the minority on. I like it because I feel like this is the best case scenario, giving us a fun version of the Fantastic Four, with some really solid casting choices.

Why you Might Not Like it: If you prefer a more serious tone, this won’t be your thing. Plus, it is not perfect. it certainly isn’t technically perfect, and not all the casting works. but now having seen three full versions of this family, plus the John Krasinski cameo, this one gets the job done.

Final thoughts: A couple of strong casting choices, a simple and complete origin story paced well, and the feeling of exuberance keep the first take on the fantastic Four a notch above the rest.

Final Grade: 7.1/10