You can say all you want about what makes a good comic-book movie, but the bottom line is that an adaptation only works well when it stays true to character and relationships. Costumes changes, minor adjustments in continuity, plucking the best characters despite continuity - none of that is harmful to adaptation so long as characters are what and whom they should be.

“X-Men: The Animated Series” altered continuity and chose only the cream of the crop for a cast, but it was a smash success because the characters were done correctly. Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2 altered continuity and made the webbing organic and not mechanical, but they stayed true to character. Until Saturday, I thought the Spider-Man franchise to be Marvel’s best because it was so true to character (unlike the X-Men franchise, which altered several characters). That position has now changed: Fantastic Four now wears the crown!

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Ioan Gruffudd as Mr. Fantastic/Reed Richards

Mr. Fantastic is one of those characters that I found to be difficult to cast, long before Tim Story was even given the reins of Fantastic Four. I eventually found one that fits remarkably, but he is seemingly too old (I will reveal my choice in a later article) for the way Fox and Marvel are going with the franchise. Ioan Gruffudd (pronounced “Yo-an Griffith” for those of you who wonder) was a good choice (though not the best) and pulled off the somewhat naïve scientist very well. While the actor himself is eight years older than Jessica Alba, Reed is not that much older than Alba’s Sue Storm (the two having met in college). A disparity in age is pretty much the only problem with the cast as a whole (though a minor matter at most). Finally, many actors from the UK, Ireland, and Australia are able to cover their accents well; however, Gruffudd’s Welsh came through just enough to seem awkward.

Acting Skills: 3.5 (loses .5 on accent)
Appearance: 3
Demeanor: 4
Average: 3.5
Grade: B+

PS - The white streaks in Reed’s hair caught a split-second’s attention in the movie, put down to being simply another symptom of the cosmic rays - a great way to give the look of the comics without being campy or corny. Take note, Marvel, that it was done correctly - unlike what had been done with the gawky camp effect on David Hasselhoff’s Nick Fury and the cheesy origin of Rogue’s hair being a result of absorbing powers (and hair color) from Magneto. Thank goodness they didn’t have Reed get his trademark white by absorbing it from Willie Lumpkin!

PPS - Everyone got called their nicknames and used their battlecries - why wasn’t Reed called “Stretch?!”

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Michael Chiklis as The Thing/Ben Grimm

No one could have been better as the Thing than Michael Chiklis. Long before Fantastic Four went into pre-production, long-time comic-book fan Chiklis introduced himself to Marvel Studios Chief Avi Arad as Ben Grimm! So, Chiklis essentially cast himself - and we need more comic-book fans cast in the roles, as their intimate knowledge of the characters pays off (like in this case): Chiklis nailed the role of the gentle giant. (Hopefully, despite not looking like Johnny Blaze, comic-book fan Nic Cage will give the same kind of performance in Ghost Rider).

On a minor note, where’s the hair that non-Thing Ben Grimm should have? Chiklis may be bald, but he had fake hair for The Three Stooges!

Acting Skills: 4
Appearance: 3.5 (loses for being bald pre-Thing)
Demeanor: 5
Average: 4.2
Grade: A+

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Jessica Alba as The Invisible Woman (or Girl)/Susan Storm

Wow! They actually used both of Sue’s codenames, for she started as Invisible Girl before being promoted to “Woman.” Unfortunately, the casting of Sue was as fulfilling. Jessica Alba did an okay job, but her acting is light and fluffy at times, and the appearance of the character was forced upon her, as she naturally looks nothing like the character in the comics (hair being one trait that didn‘t match). Some fanboys may want to smack me for disagreeing with Alba having been chosen for the role, but just because the actress is incredibly hot in or out of ‘spandex’ (and she is) doesn’t mean she is right for the role. Moreover, as said in the entry on Reed, Alba is not a very good age in comparison to the rest of the cast - Chris Evans is supposed to be playing her younger brother, yet the two actors are the same age! Yet, I was satisfied nonetheless with the outcome because the character was written true to form (unlike some Marvel characters who have been both written and cast incorrectly).

Acting Skills: 2
Appearance: 2.5
Demeanor: 4
Average: 2.8
Grade: C+

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Chris Evans as The Human Torch/Johnny Storm

 

I had never seen a movie with Chris Evans before, so when it was first announced that he had been cast as Johnny Storm, I was wary; however, as soon as the trailers began to air, I had no doubts. Evans as the Torch was almost as good as Chiklis as the Thing. Too bad Evans is the same age as Alba, who plays his older sister (no biggie though). One final note, though, is that they could have tried to make Evans a little blond like his comic-book counterpart (a problem similar to Alba’s).

Acting Skills: 4
Appearance: 3
Demeanor: 4
Average: 3.7
Grade: A-

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Julian McMahon as Victor Von Doom

Oddly enough, the villain in the movie is never once called Dr. Doom. He says, “Call me Doom” and “We’re both doctors,” but the two key words are never used in the same sentence. Whether or not it really makes a difference, I don’t know, but I do know that the movie Doom was almost completely rewritten - the only part of the character that remained from the comics is the personality (which is the most important). His origin, powers, and the romantic interest in Sue Storm were all different from the sorcerer-scientist of the comics who knew Reed from college. Also, Doom was never on the ship with the heroes in the comics. Yet, at least they got it right about how Victor’s transformation into Doom all started with a little scar, both to his face and to his ego.

But none of that really pertains to casting - as far as that is concerned, Julian McMahon was an excellent choice to play the egomaniacal would-be conqueror called Doom. “Charmed” fans know how much a bad-ass he was in that show, so when it was announced that he’d be Doom, there was no going back! Funny how the TV show that made him big carries the motto “power of 3,” and Fantastic Four promoted itself with the motto “power of 4.”

Acting Skills: 4
Appearance: 3.5
Demeanor: 5
Average: 4.2
Grade: A+

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Those are the five roles that were significant enough to include in the grading process.
So, what's the cast's final grade?

Average: 3.7     Grade:

BUT WAIT…

Even though she was only seen twice, Alicia Masters has been part of the F4 family from the very beginning (Fantastic Four v1 #8 in 1962). The relationship between her and Ben Grimm touched off well, but Kerry Washington did not look the part at all! I don’t want to get into anything too touchy, but race helps define a character in many instances, especially in the Marvel universe where mutants are hated for their race. It would be great if we lived in a world where race were moot point, but unfortunately race does come into play a lot, so casting should not disregard it.

Kerry Washington as Alicia Masters
(so-so choice)

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Also, Willie Lumpkin as been a part of the F4 family since the beginning as well (FF v1 #11 in 1963). Stan Lee, creator of F4 and so many other legendary characters, has made cameos in a majority of Marvel movies, but this is the first time he has actually played an actual character from the comics - and he fit’s the part superbly no less!

Stan Lee as Willie Lumpkin
(excellent choice)