Within the wake of The Unbelievable 4: First Steps, the 2000s Unbelievable 4 films reveal some uncomfortable truths. The Unbelievable 4 films introduced Marvel’s First Household to life for the primary time on the large display screen, years earlier than the MCU timeline. Whereas they nonetheless have moments of goofy enjoyable, additionally they reveal inventive missteps and baffling character choices.
When Unbelievable 4 (2005) and Unbelievable 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007) hit theaters, they have been among the many few big-budget Marvel variations. On the time, their lighter tone and family-friendly allure appeared like a welcome change from darker superhero films. But upon rewatching at present, these movies really feel painfully dated, each when it comes to particular results and storytelling selections.
10
Johnny Storm’s Allure Hasn’t Aged Nicely
Chris Evans introduced plain charisma to Johnny Storm. Nevertheless, the character’s model of “allure” doesn’t land as effectively at present. In 2005, his over-the-top flirting, fixed smirking, and have to showboat felt like cheeky comedian reduction.
Now, it comes throughout as immature and, at occasions, downright cringeworthy – particularly his relentless romantic advances towards girls who clearly aren’t . The movies body this as innocent enjoyable. But in hindsight, it feels extra intrusive than charming.
His obsession with media consideration, reminiscent of public stunts and shameless self-promotion, additionally clashes with the crew’s supposed mission to guard the world. Whereas Evans’ efficiency is energetic, the character’s lack of progress on this space makes him really feel caught in a juvenile, early-2000s “girls’ man” stereotype. When considered at present, this undercuts his potential as a extra complicated hero.
9
The Comedy Scenes In Unbelievable 4 Undermined The Narrative
The Unbelievable 4 movies wished to be each superhero adventures and quirky sitcoms. Sadly, their comedic beats typically felt wedged in with out serving the story. Moments like Reed Richards awkwardly dancing, Johnny pranking Ben with shaving cream, or the crew lounging round in slapstick montages could have been meant to point out camaraderie, however they finally stall the pacing.
None of those scenes develop the plot or deepen the characters. They exist purely for affordable laughs that don’t land as effectively at present. Worse, they typically undercut the stress in key moments, making the stakes really feel nonexistent.
In a contemporary superhero panorama, humor works finest when built-in naturally into the motion. Guardians of the Galaxy is an ideal instance of this. The Unbelievable 4’s pressured comedy now seems like filler that distracts from an already skinny narrative.
8
Physician Doom Was Largely Complicated
Physician Doom must be one in every of Marvel’s most compelling villains – sensible, ruthless, and dangerously highly effective. Within the 2000s Unbelievable 4 movies, nevertheless, he’s a muddled mix of CEO clichés and imprecise sci-fi threats. The primary film provides him an origin tied to the identical cosmic storm that empowered the crew, however his skills are by no means clearly outlined.
Generally he shoots electrical energy, generally he seems indestructible. Different occasions he’s simply wealthy and offended. His motivations swing between private revenge, company ambition, and world domination with none constant throughline.
This lack of readability robs Doom of the menace he deserves. As an alternative of being a towering presence, he’s decreased to a shallow antagonist whose powers serve regardless of the scene wants. For these conversant in the comics, this imprecise, inconsistent portrayal is among the movies’ largest disappointments.
7
The Invisible Girl Was Bare A lot Extra Than She Had To Be
In Unbelievable 4 (2005), Sue Storm’s invisibility powers are repeatedly used as a skinny excuse to strip her down. The primary occasion – on the bridge whereas sporting road garments – can no less than be justified as a chaotic accident throughout their first large public outing. But then there’s the much more egregious second the place Reed Richards walks in on her within the bathe.
This scene provides nothing to the plot and exists purely for awkward sexualization. Moderately than specializing in Sue’s mind and management qualities, the movies too typically body her by male gaze humor. Even in a lighter, extra comedic superhero movie, these moments really feel pointless and exploitative.
In hindsight, it’s a irritating misuse of a serious feminine character. Within the comics, Sue has advanced right into a feminist icon, which was lacking from the 2000s Unbelievable 4 films. Fortunately, The Unbelievable 4: First Steps rectified this.
6
The Factor’s Quest For A Treatment Was Resolved In The First Film
Within the first Unbelievable 4 Ben Grimm’s arc facilities on his wrestle to just accept his transformation into The Factor. By the climax, Reed has developed a approach to revert Ben to human type. Nevertheless, he makes peace together with his situation, selecting to stay as he’s to be able to save his pals from Physician Doom.
It’s a satisfying decision, or no less than it ought to have been. Surprisingly, Rise of the Silver Surfer rehashes the identical emotional battle. Ben is once more tempted by the prospect of a treatment, with every character seemingly forgetting the beforehand developed one.
This repetition undermines his improvement and makes the sequel really feel prefer it’s spinning its wheels. As an alternative of exploring new dimensions of Ben’s character or giving him contemporary challenges, the movies fall again on the identical drama. It’s a lazy recycling of story beats that makes The Factor’s emotional journey really feel caught in place.
5
Johnny Storm As Tremendous Skrull Was Simply Bizarre
One among Rise of the Silver Surfer’s most weird inventive selections comes close to the top, when Johnny Storm good points all of the powers of his teammates. He stretched like Reed, turned invisible like Sue, and turned rock-solid like Ben, earlier than utilizing them to battle Doom. This “Tremendous Skrull”-style power-up may have been an thrilling crew second.
Nevertheless, it as a substitute feels unusual and anticlimactic. Moderately than the Unbelievable 4 working collectively to defeat the villain, the climax primarily sidelines everybody besides Johnny. It additionally makes the combat too simple, as there’s no actual tactical problem when one character can do every part.
The selection performs extra like a online game cheat code than a satisfying narrative payoff. It’s a flashy sequence with little weight. It additionally undercut all the premise of the Unbelievable 4 as a united crew.
4
The Unbelievable 4 Contributed Very Little To Galactus’s Defeat
The Unbelievable 4 are speculated to be the heroes of their very own story, however in Rise of the Silver Surfer, they play a surprisingly minor position within the precise decision. When the world-ending risk of Galactus arrives, it’s Silver Surfer, not the 4, who finally saves Earth. The crew spends a lot of the climax reacting fairly than taking decisive motion.
This robs the finale of stress and makes them really feel like supporting gamers in their very own film. It’s definitely comprehensible that the Surfer can be the one to confront his grasp. Nevertheless, the Four may have had a extra energetic position in serving to him.
As an alternative, they’re left on the sidelines whereas the actual heroics occur elsewhere. For a superhero crew film, it’s a frustratingly passive ending. It undermines the characters’ significance and easily repeats their confrontation with Physician Doom.
3
The Silver Surfer’s Backstory Was Extra Teletubby Than Cosmic Grandeur
The Silver Surfer must be one in every of Marvel’s most awe-inspiring cosmic figures. He’s a tragic, noble herald of Galactus with a galaxy-spanning backstory. Sadly, Rise of the Silver Surfer reduces his mystique with some baffling inventive selections, essentially the most notorious being the “film within the tummy” scene.
When Sue touches the Surfer’s chest, she sees a video-like imaginative and prescient of his previous projected onto his metallic pores and skin. Moderately than feeling like a grand house drama, it as a substitute remembers the Teletubbies’ stomach screens. As an alternative of deepening the character’s lore, it comes off as tacky and unintentionally foolish.
The visible impact was serviceable, however the resolution undermined the grandeur wanted to promote the idea. It makes the second really feel low-budget and unintentionally comedic. It’s a clumsy sequence that fails to convey the cosmic scope the Surfer’s story deserves.
2
First Steps Had A A lot Extra Compelling Household Dynamic
The 2000s Unbelievable 4 movies leaned into lighthearted bickering and slapstick humor to painting the household bond. Unbelievable 4: World’s Biggest Heroes the animated collection and The Unbelievable 4: First Steps confirmed how far more compelling that dynamic could possibly be. In First Steps, the relationships between Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben felt richer.
It boasted real emotional stakes and mutual respect regardless of their variations. The 2000s Unbelievable 4 movies typically decreased their bofirnd to petty pranks and shallow banter. This undermined the concept of them as Marvel’s “First Household.”
Watching First Steps after revisiting the 2000s films highlights how far more the household dynamic shines when there’s genuine heat. Whereas there are nonetheless comedic bits, they really feel subordinate to the dynamic fairly than the one issue. It’s proof that the 4 can, and will, be portrayed as a deeper, extra layered crew.
1
A Correct Galactus Was Method Higher Than The Notorious Area Cloud
Maybe essentially the most notorious inventive misstep of Rise of the Silver Surfer was turning Galactus into a large, swirling house cloud. The choice stripped away one in every of Marvel’s most visually iconic villains. It changed him with an vague, formless mass that lacked any character or presence.
In The Unbelievable 4: First Steps, Galactus is depicted in a means that honors his authentic comedian e book design. He’s towering, humanoid, and imposing, proving {that a} trustworthy model can work on-screen. The house cloud was chosen as filmmakers have been nonetheless hung up on making superhero films “real looking.”
Watching the house cloud model after seeing the MCU’s Galactus, it seems like an enormous missed alternative. This transformation not solely upset comedian e book readers, but additionally robbed the sequel’s climax of visible impression. An actual Galactus may have given the finale the epic scale it wanted. It stands because the worst resolution made by the 2000s Unbelievable 4 films.
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Unbelievable 4
4/10
- Launch Date
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June 29, 2005
- Runtime
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106 minutes
- Director
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Tim Story
- Writers
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Mark Frost, Michael France
- Producers
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Avi Arad, Bernd Eichinger, Chris Columbus, Kevin Feige, Mark Radcliffe, Michael Barnathan, Ralph Winter
