Fantastic Four MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: +3 Content: +1

Poised to make a major discovery, Reed Richards (Ioan Gruffudd) leads a crew of astronauts on a mission to investigate a cosmic storm. But when the storm arrives much earlier and more powerfully than Richards had predicted, the crew is unable to escape exposure to the cosmic radiation. Though at first the radiation seems to have no effect on them, each crew member soon begins to exhibit supernatural powers. Reed gains the power to stretch his body like elastic. Susan Storm (Jessica Alba) can become invisible and generate force fields. Her brother Johnny Storm (Chris Evans) can manipulate and engulf himself in flame. And Ben Grimm (Michael Chiklis) becomes a disfigured, yet extremely strong, stonelike creature. Together, they become the Fantastic Four: superheroes who didn?t ask for the job yet learn to use their powers against the evil plans of their former benefactor turned villain, Dr. Victor Von Doom (Julian McMahon).

Based on the classic Marvel comic book, Fantastic Four lacks the energy of the Spiderman movies, spending most of its time telling the story of how the heroes become heroes. In fact, for most of the film, the Fantastic Four are reluctant to be superheroes, accepting the responsibility only at the end. As with any superhero film, Fantastic Four makes clear distinctions between the ?good guys? and the ?bad guy,? making for an upbeat film with a positive message of good versus evil. And since the superheroes start out as normal people, they exhibit normal human failings and go through normal human learning processes. The film does, however, accept an evolutionary worldview expressed in the assumption that superpowers are the product of an accelerated evolutionary process. It also includes some mild sexuality and innuendo, along with some inappropriate language. Still, the content is mild enough that Preview can recommend Fantastic Four.

Preview Reviewer: Shaun Daugherty
Distributor: 20th Century Fox