FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS recaptures the magic of Marvel past
This is the best Marvel movie in years
The Fantastic Four has had a rough go of it on the big screen. Marvel’s First Family first had a movie made in 1994, though it was never actually released. Tim Story made two films in the early 2000’s, predating the rise of Quality Superhero Movies and dripping in camp. And then Josh Trank ruined his career with the incomprehensible and far too dark FANT4STIC debacle.
The common theme through it all has been that the Fantastic Four belonged with Marvel Studios, not Fox.
Ironically, by the time Marvel Studios finally got their hands on the property again, it came at a time when the studio has lost its touch. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has put out some stinkers since the event of AVENGERS: ENDGAME. Even their more well-received films, like THUNDERBOLTS+ earlier this year, have failed to generate much excitement.
Thankfully, that all changed with FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS.
Directed by Matt Shakman, primarily a TV director who’s done most of his work with IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA, this film finally nails the introduction of the Fantastic Four. Ironically, Shakman pulls this off by opting not to introduce them at all.
The film starts off in an alternate universe where the Fantastic Four have been around for some time. A television program offers a speedy recap of the space expedition that gave them their powers, the fact that the Fantastic Four have become known as Earth’s protectors, and that they are generally loved by all.
Just like that, what took Story and Trank entire films to clumsily portray took Shakman all of five minutes. Rather than subjecting audiences to yet another origin story, he gets right into the action.
The action, of course, is not your standard superhero movie action because the Fantastic Four are not your standard superheroes. They have powers and wear matching costumes, but Fantastic Four are not ones to punch or kick or laser their way out of situations.
The draw for the Fantastic Four, at least in the comics, was because of their family dynamic. That’s where Shakman’s background on IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY oddly comes into play.
Almost immediately, that family dynamic is front and center. Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards and Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm are the power couple, both beautiful and brilliant, while Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Ben Grimm and Joseph Quinn’s Johnny Storm are the fun cousins who playfully annoy each other but would drop everything in an instant to protect their family.
The impetus for the film’s story revolves around Sue getting pregnant, which introduces all sorts of shenanigans. Reed, the smartest man in the world and chronic overthinker, sets out to baby proof the world. Immediately, the implications of parenthood for a superhero family conjure up supersized variations on the paranoia and anxiety that any parent has.
How can we protect our children from the dangers of the world? It’s something every parent asks at least once, and Shakman brilliantly ties that same concern to these powerful geniuses to instantly make their journey relatable.
Just when it’s starting to look like things will be safe, in comes the Silver Surfer (played by Julia Garner) to herald the coming of Galactus and, subsequently, the destruction of Earth.
Suddenly, the Fantastic Four is presented with an existential threat they know nothing about. The most powerful and most intelligent people on the planet are suddenly powerless and in the dark. So they venture to space to meet this Galactus, hoping to negotiate with him to spare their planet.
That’s the setup for a film that really takes off once the Fantastic Four’s rocket actually takes off into space. Shakman firmly establishes all the various dynamics of this family before chucking them into the actual story, and the very real themes of family and parenthood are present throughout the rest of the film.
Prior to seeing this one, I had heard it described as a mixture of THE INCREDIBLES and INTERSTELLAR. My first thought was that this is exactly what a Fantastic Four movie should be.
Walking out of the theater, that description is wildly accurate.
There are certain scenes in here that almost feel like deleted scenes from INTERSTELLAR, both visually and narratively. Of course, it’s hardly a bad thing to steal from one of the best science fiction movies of the century, and Shakman’s constant focus on the family dynamics above all else helps distinguish these scenes from merely being a ripoff of another movie.
In short, this film works on every level.
It nails the essence of the characters, delivers a compelling story that allows each member to shine, and pulls on the right heartstrings in presenting its central thesis.
Pascal and Kirby are sublime in their roles. Pascal, in particular, hits on something with Reed that has never been touched on in previous adaptations. His superior intellect has opened up all kinds of avenues for him, but this film explores how some of those avenues can take Reed down a much darker path than he might like.
Kirby’s Sue acts in a lot of ways as the glue of the family. While Reed is unquestionably the leader of the team, Sue is the emotional core holding it all together. Where Reed has his shortcomings, Sue fills the gaps perfectly, making it immediately understandable how these two fell in love.
Moss-Bachrach is limited in his capabilities as The Thing, due to being completely CGI, but his voice acting works to portray Ben as a warm and loyal member of the family. Furthermore, his characterization as a guy with a hard exterior but soft, mushy inside who just longs for the old days is a beautiful interpretation.
The one who steals the show, though, is Quinn’s Johnny. Typically, both in the movies and the comics, Johnny is portrayed as a dumb jock and womanizer. While he certainly has some of those elements here as well, this Johnny is also a brilliant scientist. He has an entire subplot that borrows elements (albeit on a speed run) from another sci-fi masterpiece - ARRIVAL - and it makes the character more likable and entertaining than he’s ever been before.
The action scenes are breathtaking as well. One chase scene that takes place in space is so creative, memorable, and thrilling that it made me feel the way audiences felt back in 1977 watching STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE for the first time.
Galactus, played by Ralph Ineson, is darn near perfect.
I was worried how the character would translate to the big screen, but Shakman managed to pull it off with a faithful character design that isn’t corny. Ineson’s booming voice makes Galactus - who is appropriately massive - awesomely terrifying. This is how Galactus should feel: omnipotent, unending, and inevitable.
Garner’s Silver Surfer feels like a bit of a weak point. Garner herself delivers the goods, but the characterization feels a bit lacking in the end. The Silver Surfer is more plot device than actual character, though she plays pivotal roles in several thrilling action sequences.
There are a couple other negatives, though not much. The CGI for The Thing is very good, in a vacuum, but he does look awkward when standing next to human beings. It’s not enough to detract from the experience, but it’s a bit jarring in some shots.
While the conclusion to the film is thrilling and satisfying, one element of it felt predictable and overdone by this point in superhero films. Having said that, Shakman - with help from a beautiful score by Michael Giacchino - still manages to ratchet up the tension in the climax.
All in all, FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS is a rousing success. Not only is it the best superhero film of the year, but it’s the best thing Marvel has put out since CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER.
Rating: ★★★★★