THE BEST MOVIES are usually both earnest and smart (The Insider). Many successful movies are superficial and smart (Die Hard). And every so often, you can find an enjoyable movie which is superficial and stupid (The Fast and the Furious).

Fox’s latest offering, Fantastic Four, is not one of those rare finds. A recent string of exceptionally well-made comic-book movies has spoiled us. X-Men 2 in 2003, Spider-Man 2 in 2004, and then The Incredibles later that year, each set new high-water marks for the genre. Fantastic Four stands out in a different way.