One Giant Leap for 'Fantastic Four' | Review

Can Marvel Shake Off Its Phase Five Blues With Its First Family?

It is no secret that the Fantastic Four, often called Marvel’s “first family,” have had a rough go when it comes to the big screen. Prior to First Steps, the best adaptations were director Tim Story’s Fantastic Four (2005) and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007) — and that’s not saying much. This duology is far from the worst of Marvel’s disjointed early 2000s films, but some casting choices, flat humor, and a misguided take on Doctor Doom left us with a couple of unremarkable films that reek of the decade in which they were made. And the less said about 2015’s practically unwatchable Fant4stic, the better. With such a disastrous run, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the introduction of Marvel’s First Family into the Cinematic Universe for quite some time.

Since the release of Avengers: Endgame in 2019, Marvel’s luster has dimmed. The end of its historic Infinity Saga marked the beginning of the (near) disastrous Multiverse Saga, in which box office returns plummeted and critical reception cooled. Although commercially successful, not even the introduction of Fox-owned characters like Deadpool could turn the tide of the scattershot saga. I have my criticisms of the franchise and of some of the creative choices made in recent years, but, to be honest, I have never wavered in my excitement to see the Fantastic Four brought to life in a film worthy of those iconic characters. Kevin Feige and company can drop the ball as many times as they want, but if they get those characters right, I’ll be happy.

Friends, they cracked the code.

First Steps is a film that functions primarily to introduce a definitive version of Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Ben Grimm, and Johnny Storm to the MCU, and reintroduce them to an audience who mostly knows their deal. Many superhero movies, especially reboots, are opting to skip the origin story, or at least pare it down in favor of diving into the plot, but First Steps opens with an in-universe recap of the team’s fateful space expedition that leaves them forever changed, via an ABC Television special. It’s brief, but effective in reminding us what these characters can do and where they stand in their world —a visually rich Earth-828, set in a retro-futuristic 1964 New York City. We meet the team four years into their tenure, and are shown how they have become beloved heroes across the globe. Director Matt Shakman (WandaVision), confidently helms this film, allowing it to dance between interpersonal drama, sci-fi action, and tender family moments. I greatly appreciated Shakman’s willingness to let the movie lean on scenes where the Four talk, eat, argue, or put their heads together to solve a problem, rather than relying on a string of massive fights to move the plot along.

Visually, this is the prettiest film in Marvel Studios’ catalogue. The production design is outstanding and so fitting of the spirit of Jack Kirby’s(no relation to Vanessa, who plays Sue Storm) art and the 1960s origins of the Fantastic Four. The team’s costumes are solid, and I really enjoyed how each one has a distinct style rather than a uniform look. In keeping with most films in the Multiverse Saga, I felt that the CGI was generally below par, especially in scenes that featured Franklin Richards, Reed and Sue’s son, and some of the scenes where Reed stretches looked noticeably fake to me. That said, the depiction of Galactus is a major win here. Ralph Ineson’s (The Witch, The Green Knight) booming voice is perfectly suited to the cosmic giant, and his comic-accurate look was magnificent to behold on a big screen. I was initially skeptical when it was announced that Galactus would be the primary antagonist, but there is no denying that Shakman and co. have done justice to the space god. Now, let’s talk about the most important aspect of any superhero film: casting.

I’ve been a Marvel fan since I was about 3 or 4 years old, and have loved the Fantastic Four in particular for most of my life. Naturally, I was always going to be impossible to please, and while I respect some of the actors in previous iterations’ casts, I was never sold on those casts. The announcement of Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing, and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch was a welcome one indeed. This is a troupe of generally well-regarded actors, and Pascal’s star power in particular was surely needed to convince detractors that these characters were worth giving another chance.

While none of them would have been my personal choices, the four actors in question all do a fantastic (I promise I won’t do that again) job in this movie. Credit is also due to the writing, which not only adequately depicts the obvious traits of each member, but gives us a strong understanding of their humanity: Reed’s insecurity about his obsessive quest to solve every problem, Sue’s grit and tremendous power, Ben’s passion for life in spite of his physical setback, and Johnny’s often-overlooked intelligence. Not only does each actor understand how to play each character, but they also play off each other in a way that makes them a believable family unit with the dynamics of a spouse, sibling, or close friend. I was particularly struck by Reed and Sue adjusting to parenthood, as I myself welcomed a son last year, and I identify with Reed the most. There is one scene in particular, where Reed and Sue argue about something I won't spoil pertaining to Franklin, that hit home for me in a big way. I think Pascal and Kirby give a stellar portrayal of this couple as equals, and I’d argue that even though this is an ensemble film, Sue is its heart. In that spirit, Kirby really shines here, though she will need to refine her American accent slightly next time.

In addition to Ineson, the supporting cast features Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal/Silver Surfer, Galactus’s cold, calculating herald, and Paul Walter Hauser as Mole Man, a former adversary of the Four who has since reformed. Both actors do a fine job. Aside from Kirby, my favorite performance was easily from Herbie the Robot, who played Herbie, the Fantastic Four’s helper robot, and I want one of my own immediately. In all seriousness, Herbie is great in the comics and was a welcome addition to the movie, which added an extra smile to each scene he featured in.

The overall tone of the film ranges from silly to somber in a way that feels appropriate. The Fantastic Four feature in some dark comic book storylines and events, but their own adventures are typically lighthearted in tone but epic in scale. I think Shakman’s film perfectly captures the essence of this wonderful family, and while I think this cast has their work cut out for them going forward, they have earned the esteemed honor of being the definitive live-action Fantastic Four.

We have officially entered the final phase of the Multiverse Saga. Sighs of relief all around, am I right? Just kidding. You know there’s at least another 10 years of this nonsense to come, and with the X-Men taking center stage after 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars, I’m as excited as ever for yet another helping of superhero movies. I look forward to enriching your lives with my very correct opinions on next year’s MCU movies, Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday, where the Fantastic Four will next be seen.

Until then, thank you for reading, and now go read a comic book!

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