Not fantastic... but fun

Monday afternoon I went to see the latest superhero movie, Fantastic Four. From probably age 14 or so until three years ago (when I was 30) I had bought and read every issue of The World's Great Comic Magazine as Stan Lee once called it.

While the movie had some storyline problems and definite pacing issues - it took nearly 100 minutes before we get to a major fight scene - it was an overall fun movie because it didn't take itself too seriously, say like Batman.

Michael Chiklis played perfectly the Thing's personality of a downtrodden loser with a heart. And Chris Evans' Human Torch was close to the comic with the character having fun with life, yet showing responsibility and courage when needed. However, I just didn't find Ioan Gruffudd or Jessica Alba worked very well as Reed Richards or Susan Storm. And making Alicia Masters black just popped out as a way to through in a role for a non-white actor.

My favorite inside bit was the cameo of Stan Lee as postman Willie Lumpkin. It was very cute... especially not that Lee is over eighty years old and now actually looks like Lumpkin does in the comic book.