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I had heard a decent mix of reviews of the film before I saw it, and I remained optimistic even though the trailers did not give me too much hope. Out of the five X-Men movies, to me they are separated into only two groups: X-Men & X2 in the first group, and X-Men: The Last Stand, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, & X-Men: First Class in the second. The first two movies being both high quality movies, and therefore their “superhero movie” status is naturally also high, and the latter group trying to ride on the first group’s coattails. It seems as though comic book movies have perhaps reached over saturation. And by this I mean, not necessarily that there are just too many, but that in the rush to make them, they are made cheaply.
The problem with First Class is that while it is a summertime popcorn movie, it is easily exposed to be not just a summertime popcorn movie, which is perfectly fine and good, but one that was only made to make money, tie in with video games, and to attract a younger audience. Now, of course, movies are meant to make money, and many want a young audience, but they needn’t be so obvious about it.
One reviewer said something to the effect of “Not only a great super hero movie, but a great movie.” I would say an average super hero movie, but a not so great movie. Overall, it had a pretty cheap feel to it. There is a difference between crafting a story and characters, and just spilling them all onto the screen. There were so many characters, few of whom had much depth, that none really mattered too much. The plot, while in theory sounds like a good storyline, was produced in the same superficial way. I would give credit to the ones who came up with the story, Sheldon Turner and Bryan SInger, but it fell apart with the screenplay and direction.
A few of the actors, McAvoy, Fassbender, and Bacon, definitely did a solid job and made the movie better than it would have otherwise been. And some of the smaller role actors did fine jobs, but again, the parts weren’t able to lend to much to the film. I was disappointed with Jones in her portrayal of Emma Frost. I have never seen Mad Men, but in this she just seemed so meek and weak, neither quality I would use to describe Frost.
Also, I understand and am fine with the very relevant equating of mutant powers to homosexuality. They touched on it in X2 (my favorite of the series), but in First Class they just kept pushing it to the point that all it did was take you out of the movie. Again, the screenplay (and directing) at work. How many times do they have to say “mutant and proud”? Believe it or not, after the first or second time, we get it. And of course the most subtle line of the movie, “Why didn’t you tell me you were a mutant? You didn’t ask, so I didn’t tell.” Just in case you weren’t getting the connection. Oh, and one other thing - the first time you make a joke about Xavier’s hair-you get a chuckle. The second-not so much. Does the movie really need two jokes about how he has hair (you know, cause it’s so funny since later he doesn’t)? These may sound like trivial points, but they underscore the cheap and hurriedly made nature of the movie, especially the screenplay and direction.
FInally, while McAvoy and Fassbender did their jobs quite well with what they were given, it felt as though the script did not do enough to show their connection. They meet, team up, and become enemies by the end of the movie, and while there is one obvious climactic scene to show that connection, it still seemed lacking. Again, mostly due to the screenplay.
It was an average “superhero movie” but nothing for which to go crazy. It was entertaining enough, with some pretty solid actors, and a couple fun scenes, and if you liked the last two in the franchise, you should probably see it. If you perhaps liked the first and/or second, but not so much the next two, I wouldn’t really recommend it. Netflix it, or wait for FX to show it on some Saturday afternoon.
P.S. I don’t really enjoy to write any sort of negative reviews of movies. More and more I am seeing just how difficult they are to make. The fact is, most movies that are seen, and many that are not, are the sums of hours and hours and days and months or even years of very difficult work, and for the most part they are worked on by extremely talented people tryingto do their best. Sometimes it just all works better than other times.
