Tim Story’s Fantastic Four Films: An Analysis

Before the MCU: Revisiting Marvel’s Forgotten Heroes

Once upon a time, before Marvel Studios expertly weaved its grand narrative web, superheroes fluttered across screens as separate entities. From the late ’90s to the mid-aughts, 16 superhero flicks appeared, showcasing a wide range of quality. While Spider-Man: No Way Home and Deadpool & Wolverine have nostalgically stitched some back into relevancy, these films remain vintage treasures of their own era. Some have aged like fine wine, others like vinegar.

Hits and Misses

The Blade trilogy still boasts two sharp entries, though its finale flies astray. Similar praise and critique suit Sam Raimi’s gripping Spider-Man saga and the trailblazing X-Men trio. Despite a director’s cut facelift, Daredevil remains laborious. Ang Lee’s Hulk unfurls like abstract art without the gallery guide. For Tom Jane’s captivating performance, The Punisher earns a nod, yet falls short otherwise. Unfortunately, both Elektra and Ghost Rider demand patience to endure, serving up more groans than thrills.

But let’s talk about Tim Story’s Fantastic Four duo. Initially dismissed alongside a heap of forgettable fare, they’re surprisingly not the basement dwellers of Marvel’s pre-MCU tower. With the 2025 reboot on the horizon, revisiting these early films becomes intriguing.

The Pros

Casting remains the saving grace for Story’s double feature. Michael Chiklis embodies Ben Grimm/The Thing with rugged heart and humanity. Meanwhile, Chris Evans, not yet burdened with a shield, ignites the screen as the lively Johnny Storm/Human Torch. Evans’s charisma turns even flat jokes into embers of entertainment. Laurie Fishburne and Doug Jones, as the Silver Surfer, merge perfectly to deliver a memorable character.

Conversely, Jessica Alba, often underrated, maximizes her limited material while Ioan Gruffudd seems slightly alienated in both installments. Julian McMahon starts strong but drifts into excess in the sequel. Yet, sparks fly when Evans and Chiklis share scenes, especially during their electrifying banter.

And then there’s the pacing. Such rapid storytelling suits lighter, popcorn-friendly adventures. Rarely do these films linger, propelling viewers smoothly from one set-piece to the next. They are brisk, engaging affairs, achieving simplicity with flair. Yet, this breakneck speed extracts its toll.

The Cons

These films feel a tad dated, stumbling over their own cultural references. Some, like Johnny’s nod to MasterCard’s "Priceless" campaign, still resonate due to their staying power. But many interactions now seem desperate for contemporary applause, rather than timeless connection.

Pacing double-dips as a drawback. Enthralling speed sacrifices depth, leaving characters underdeveloped. Within 15 short minutes, the foursome gains powers before truly revealing themselves as individuals. Mutual histories and connections are alluded to, but thinly stretched. Unlike Spider-Man 2, which balanced heroics with personal turmoil, Fantastic Four’s heavier lifting remains purely physical, without emotional heft.

These early Marvel escapades rest comfortably mid-tier. Neither dazzling nor dismal, they’re firm reminders of a pre-MCU epoch. They haven’t wowed through time, yet provide entertaining detours should nostalgia beckon a rewatch.