Similar to the Star Wars prequel trilogy and the pair of The Amazing Spider-Man films starring Andrew Garfield, the two Fantastic Four films directed by Tim Story have a tremendous amount of nostalgic power for fans that grew up watching them, even if they were dismissed by critics at the time. While no one would argue that either Fantastic Four or its sequel, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, attained the level of narrative complexity or emotional depth of other superhero films like Spider-Man 2 or The Dark Knight, audiences did seem to appreciate the team chemistry between Reed Richards (Ioan Gruffudd), Ben Grimm (Michael Chiklis), Sue Storm (Jessica Alba), and her brother Johnny (Chris Evans). Unfortunately, Alba had such a negative experience playing “The Invisible Woman” that she considered quitting the industry entirely.
Among the many issues with the two films was the constant sexualization of Sue. Between wardrobe malfunctions, comments about her body, and endless scenes in which she appears in skimpy clothing, the films reflected the real tabloid culture of the early 21st century. While this may have been an attempt to show how the media would react to a female superhero, it was frequently uncomfortable to watch Alba’s character be demanded and judged. Alba has even said that she lost confidence in her acting abilities during the filming of an emotional scene in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and questioned if she would be able to endure that type of treatment for the rest of her career.
Jessica Alba Was Disrespected on the Set of 'Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer'
A climactic scene in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer involves Sue being impaled by Victor Von Doom (Julian McMahon) during their battle in Shanghai. Although Reed begins to experience heartbreak when she appears to die, Sue’s life is saved by the Silver Surfer (Doug Jones), who had just recently been reunited with his board. Alba told Elle magazine that she was told by Story to “cry prettier” during this moment, as they wanted Sue to still look attractive when she was close to death. Although Alba had prepared to perform the intimate scene, which served as the emotional crux of the film, she was dismayed to be told that any tears could just be added in later using computer-generated imagery. Understandably, Alba was upset at the notion that she couldn’t be trusted to deliver an instinctual response during a scene, as the director cared more about her physical appearance than her performance as the character. Since Alba was still receiving this type of sexist treatment on the set of the second installment in a blockbuster franchise, it's easy to see why she would be cagey about continuing her career.
The treatment of Alba during the release of the films is still rather shameful; not only do the films undercut Sue’s heroism by constantly objectifying her, but critics seemed to blame Alba for creative problems with the film that were not her fault. Given the odds that were stacked against her, Alba gives a surprisingly strong performance in the films, as the awkward dynamic she shared with Gruffudd is reminiscent of many of the studio romantic comedies of the same era. There’s also a surprising sweetness to her dynamic with Evans, as the sibling compassion of Stan Lee’s original source material is well adapted. Considering that actors like Ryan Reynolds, Kelsey Grammer, and Jennifer Garner were given the opportunity to reprise their roles after appearing in disappointing comic book films, it would seem only fair for Alba to get a second shot at playing Sue.
Jessica Alba Deserves More Respect
Ironically, the cancellation of the planned third installment in the trilogy may have been the best thing that could have happened to Alba, as she was free from any obligation to work in a toxic environment. Alba made inspiring career moves in the wake of her run as Sue, as she created a prominent consumer-goods company that specializes in women’s issues. Although Alba has remained in the spotlight as a social and political activist, advocating for environmental and charitable causes, she has still occasionally appeared in films that seem to interest her. Since her cinematic output is no longer the primary thing she is known for, Alba has been allotted more freedom to take on projects that she can feel comfortable making. It was particularly inspiring to see her take on the lead role in the Netflix revenge action thriller Trigger Warning, as it allowed Alba to play the lead role in an action film, instead of being stuck in a generic “wife” or “girlfriend” role.
Both Fantastic Four and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer have aged surprisingly well, as their willingness to tell standalone, silly adventure stories feels rather refreshing when compared to the overcomplicated nature of the MCU. Although they were at times quite silly, the goofier approach that the films took the material was vastly preferable to the disastrously dark reboot from Josh Trank in 2015. That being said, the retrospective praise for the Fantastic Four films should not invalidate Alba’s experience, as she was willing to speak out about the challenges that women face in comic-book films. When considering the similarly sexist backlash that greeted Brie Larson, Iman Vellani, and Letitia Wright, there is still a lot of progress that needs to be made.
Fans Alarmed by Jessica Alba's Stunning New Instagram Photo
With a growing number of Hollywood stars drawing attention for increasingly slim appearances, Jessica Alba has become the latest celebrity to spark discussion online over her physique.
Alba recently shared an Instagram photo dump highlighting some of her August moments so far. The first photo showed the actress posing for a selfie in a tiger-stripe bikini, putting her slender frame on display. She accessorized the look with gold jewelry and sunglasses.
The rest of the carousel featured snapshots of the Honest founder golfing with her youngest son, spending time with her daughters, relaxing in the sun, enjoying campfires with friends and sharing moments with her boyfriend, Danny Ramirez.
Jessica Alba Fans Point Out Her Recent Weight Loss
However, many fans focused on the first bikini photo and expressed concern about Alba's appearance, with some speculating about weight-loss drugs despite there being no confirmation that she has used them.
"Another one lost to Ozempic," one person wrote.
Another said, "Not another Ozempic girl, she was so fine."
"Jessica, we love you but don't turn into Ariana Grande," another commenter wrote, referencing the singer's own recent appearance and the speculation surrounding her weight.
Another fan simply wrote, "I hope all is well," while someone else commented, "Not looking healthy at all. So sad."
Others pushed back against the criticism, arguing that Alba's body should not be subject to public scrutiny.
"People shaming her for the way she looks need their head examined. It's none of your business and it's also the reason women are so self-conscious of their bodies. Mind your business and your manners," one person wrote.
Hollywood Stars Face Health & Weight Loss Concerns
The online conversation surrounding the mom of three comes amid a broader trend of celebrities being scrutinized over their changing appearances. Stars including Charlize Theron, Anna Faris, Ariana Grande and Jenna Ortega have all faced public speculation about weight loss, health or the use of medications such as Ozempic.
While dramatic transformations among celebrities have long attracted attention, recent conversations have increasingly centered on stars who were already petite and now appear noticeably slimmer.
However, without confirmation from the individuals themselves, speculation about the reasons behind someone's weight or appearance remains just that—speculation.
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