There is a lot that can, and has been, said about Josh Trank's Fantastic Four reboot, which was crushed by critics and floundered at the box office. But for all its faults, Fantastic Four wasn't a bad movie. The cast — Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara, Jamie Bell and Miles Teller — was, well, fantastic, and Trank's dark sensibility also helped put a new spin on the Fantastic Four story that had previously been told in campy blockbusters. That said, one of the biggest flaws of the film was its many plot holes, such as the nine big ones I've listed below.
Behind-the-scenes drama has been blamed for the uneven final cut of Fantastic Four, with Trank seemingly accusing the studio of taking control of the film and causing it to not be up to his standards. What really happened is unclear, but there is a sense that the movie that was released in theaters was not the one anybody set out to make. If true, the rumors might help explain some of these nine plot holes in Fantastic Four .
1. How Is Any Of This Legal?
Reed Richards, Johnny Storm, Sue Storm and Victor Von Doom are all supposed to be teenagers, right? So how is it that they would be allowed to travel to another dimension in an experimental journey just because Dr. Franklin Storm says so? Shouldn't Reed at least need some kind of parental permission slip or something?
2. What Happens To Reed's Parents?
In the opening of Fantastic Four, it's established that Reed Richards has parents. Granted, they aren't too interested in his scientific endeavors, but they do exist. Why aren't they ever invited to visit the lab? Are they OK with their teenage son being teleported to another dimension? Do they ever find out that he's still alive after the accident?
3. What Is The Baxter Institute?
Reed gets recruited by Dr. Storm to join the Baxter Institute, which appears to be some kind of elite science school in the big city. However, other than one scene that takes place in a library and a move-in scene to showcase Reed's new dorm room, there is absolutely no evidence that the Baxter Institute is, indeed, an institution of learning. If anything, it looks like the Baxter Institute is just a crazy science lab using genius teenagers as free labor under the guise of being a school. Sketchy.
4. How Do Johnny And Sue React To Their Powers?
This one is a pretty literal plot hole. After Reed escapes the facility and leaves his friends behind, the movie cuts to months later without letting us see how Johnny and Sue reacted to their newfound powers. Are they excited? Scared? Do they talk to Ben? I just have so many questions.
5. How Does Victor Survive In The Other Dimension?
After Victor becomes Dr. Doom, he's left in the other dimension, believed to be dead by his fellow scientists. Only, he's not. He's survived there for months alone without any food and water. How is this possible? Do his powers come with the ability to live off of energy alone? Does he no longer need water or food to survive?
6. Why Doesn't Reed Practice His Powers?
Reed abandons Ben, Sue and Johnny for a year after their ill-advised trip to another dimension. In that time, he learns how to control his powers well enough to change the appearance of his face, but not well enough to use his stretchy arms in battle? That seems weird, and very dumb for a genius.
7. What's The Deal With Johnny?
Johnny is supposed to be a rebel, but once his dad forces him to get back in the lab, he seems perfectly happy to be there and work alongside Reed and his sister. What exactly is his motivation? Furthermore, if he's so reluctant to participate in the first place, why is he so eager to risk his life to travel to another dimension?
8. Who Are All Those People In The Lab?
At the end of the film, the Fantastic Four are give a brand new, state of the art lab to work out of, complete with perfectly tailored work stations. But, even though it's supposed to be a top secret project, there are what looks like hundreds of people in this facility. Who are they? What is their purpose? Do they work for the government, or are they scientists? We'll probably never know.
9. Why Does Any Of This Sound Like A Good Idea?
I get that Ben is supposed to be so loyal to Reed that he'd follow him to the ends of the Earth, but a whole other dimension? Not to mention the fact that he has no training and is putting his life in the hands of three drunk teenage scientists. It's just all very peculiar.
There's no doubt about it: Fantastic Four makes little sense, but I'll forgive it, if only to watch Michael B. Jordan flame on.
Images: 20th Century Fox; Giphy (9)
