By John Corrado
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is the latest attempt to bring Marvel’s “first family” to the big screen, and is easily the most successful one yet, following previous versions in 2005 (Fantastic Four) and 2007 (The Rise of the Silver Surfer), with a failed reboot in 2015 (Fant4stic).
This latest iteration, directed by Matt Shakman, works as a mostly standalone entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Moreover, it’s an enjoyable comic book movie, that refreshingly embraces its retro-futuristic aesthetic, and has solid interplay between the main cast members. So it’s a good time and does right by these characters.
The titular four are Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), his wife Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), her brother Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), and best friend Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach). They are a team of astronauts who came back to Earth with special powers following a space mission gone awry, giving them their respective alter-egos as Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, and The Thing.
This story is set a few years after them getting their superpowers, so they are already established as a team. Their origins as a group of crime-fighting superheroes are revealed in a lively montage that is presented as part of their appearance on an old TV talk show (a recurring theme), showing them facing off against various foes such as Mole Man (a scene-stealing Paul Walter Hauser, making the most of a bit part).
But the film puts the emphasis on them being a family first and foremost. It opens with Reed and Sue finding out they are having a baby, after many failed attempts at getting pregnant. But this good news coincides with the existential threat of Galactus (Ralph Ineson), a cosmic figure intent on planetary annihilation, whose coming is heralded by the arrival of the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner).
This is all you need to know about the plot going in. Unlike many entries in the MCU, it’s not necessary to have seen various other films and TV shows to follow along, with First Steps pretty much standing on its own. The film largely works because of the chemistry between the four leads, who are all well-cast in these roles. Pascal and Kirby as superheroes but also parental figures; Quinn as the playful, sarcastic Johnny; and Moss-Bachrach as the gruff but with a good heart Ben.
The other element that delightfully sets Shakman’s film apart is the 1960s setting and more vibrant colour palate. Like how WandaVision felt like a visual departure for Marvel, The Fantastic Four: First Steps also feels like it is attempting something new. The whole thing has a stylistic look that appears ripped from the pages of Jack Kirby and Stan Lee’s original comic books. The production design is consistently a treat to look at, filled with appliances, TV sets, and a robot helper right out of The Jetsons. This is a high-tech, sci-fi future as it was imagined in the mid-20th century.
The narrative does feel a little simplistic at times, but this isn’t a bad thing. It tells a straight-forward story with world-ending stakes, that are grounded in the bonds between a family. The villain presents a real threat, and the action scenes are well done. It also has heart. This is a film about the sacrifices and choices that parents make (it has a decidedly pro-natalist message – that a baby is worth having in this world, and also worth protecting – that will be refreshing for a lot of people).
This all adds up to something enjoyable and surprisingly breezy; the film even clocks in just under two hours, moving at a quick pace and avoiding a lot of the bloat. Furthermore, it’s driven by a, well, fantastic musical score by composer Michael Giacchino, including a spirited main theme. Between Thunderbolts and now The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Marvel is going back in the right direction. Where things will be going next is, of course, teased in a worthwhile mid-credits scene.
Film Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)
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