Notable Cast: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon
Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Ralph Ineson, Julia Garner, Paul Walter Hauser,
Natasha Lyonne, Sarah Niles
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is gorgeously
designed to look like it's caught in a time vortex between "the
future" and 1960s New York City. It's the kind of production design that
ought to catch some Oscar buzz early next year, and it's a shining example of
some of the intriguing aspects of this "first" film of the new phase
of the MCU. Right away from the trailers, one could tell that there was going
to be a little more thought and effort thrown into the mix for this latest adaptation
of Marvel’s First Family. To be fair, there was no way it could be worse than Josh
Trank’s Fantastic Four (2015).
However, First Steps is also a film that seems to be
caught in a time vortex between moving the MCU forward in refreshing ways and
maintaining the status quo. For every progressive choice it makes for the
franchise, it seemingly takes a step or two back out of fear of moving too far
away from the blueprint that has made the MCU a movie juggernaut. It's an
unfortunate balancing act that never seemingly manages to find its momentum and
leaves one wondering what First Steps might have been with just a smidge
more courage.
Still, the film has many fantastic qualities beyond the
previously mentioned production design and its old-school heroic score
(including the instantly memorable central theme). The primary key to First
Steps' success, however, is the distinct performances of Marvel's First
Family. Pascal shines as Reed Richards, playing him with a sincere uncertainty
about the one thing he can't science out – fatherhood – and he is the
cornerstone of much of the film's overall narrative. Both Johnny and Ben,
played by Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach respectively, get mini-arcs (the
latter feels like there was a lot more to his relationship with the local
school teacher, but it was edited for time), but they are mostly played to back
up the relationship of Reed and Sue. Truthfully, though, it is Vanessa Kirby's
Sue Storm that ultimately steals the film. Even when the narrative or plot is
not doing them favors, particularly in rushing some of the more heartfelt
sequences like Sue's address to the protestors outside of the Baxter Building
about her son, Franklin, there's a sincerity to the performances that grounds
the entire film as the whirling retro-futuristic sci-fi plot unfolds around
them.
In terms of being an MCU blockbuster, the action is decent,
if not an afterthought to the spectacle of the visuals, which range from
impressively dynamic with the Fantastic Four's light-speed spaceship to
slightly dipping into the uncanny valley with Ben's The Thing. So fans of the
series will get plenty of fun moments with the Four as they battle the
intergalactic threats. It’s just key to remember that while this is a film that
definitely leans into the spectacle, it’s science fiction thrills first and
traditional action second.
Ultimately, The Fantastic Four: First Steps does feel
caught between two worlds. It wants to be this bigger-than-life Marvel
spectacle with big bad Galactus and Silver Surfer bringing world-ending doom to
Earth, which unfortunately results in the latter character getting a half assed
character arc that never feels nearly as fulfilling as the ending would have
you believe. Still, First Steps finds its identity as a familial drama
about expanding the extended family and the fears of raising a child in a world
about to be devoured by a tireless, greedy entity.
Not that we would know what that feels like in 2025 America.
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