'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' film review: Simply fantastic
Marvel's first family makes their long-awaited debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' (in theaters everywhere July 25).
In short: The Fantastic Four must stop Galactus from destroying Earth. Stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Julia Garner, and Ralph Ineson.
As always, this is a spoiler-free review - no plot specifics or cameos will be revealed. The film does include two extra scenes during the credits - a mid-credits scene hints at the future of the MCU while the post-credits scene is just a funny little gag.
Thirty-seven movies into the long series of Marvel movies and the Fantastic Four finally join the series. And good news for fans of all sorts: 'First Steps' is very much a standalone movie completely disconnected from the three dozen MCU movies that precede it. Someone who has never seen a Marvel movie can absolutely enjoy this vibrant sci-fi adventure that's a blast for everyone.
'First Steps' feels like a comic book brought to life. The fact that this movie’s story adapts one of the team’s first comic book adventures only solidifies this sense that ‘First Steps’ is a comic book properly adapted for the big screen. Every frame and scene pops with a unique, anachronistic look as the Four desperately work to save their retro-futuristic 1960s inspired world. The story literally takes place in an alternate timeline separate from the rest of the MCU movies - freeing up the filmmakers to create a world with its own unique throwback look, but perhaps most importantly, leaving the Fantastic Four as the sole saviors of Earth. As the threat of Galactus bears down on Earth, the Four are on their own - there are no Avengers or Guardians of the Galaxy coming in to save the day.
One of the key differences within 'First Steps' that separates it from almost all other superhero movies is it posits a simple premise: the world loves the Fantastic Four. The movie finds the superhero team several years into their stint as Earth's protectors - sparing the audience yet another origin story (very similar to 'Spider-Man: Homecoming'). Trimming out the origin story or unburdened from trying to wedge the Four into the very established MCU world filled with superheroes and villains, 'First Steps' gets to squarely focus on the superhero team and a threat that imperils the entire Earth. And as the people, the individuals, the entire Earth turns to when they need heroes, 'First Steps' places all of humanity's expectations on the shoulders of the Four - a weight that even The Thing can't bear on his own and a problem even the genius of Mr. Fantastic can't solve.
Family is the core of the story's heart - specifically how the birth of a child radically changes everything, even for superheroes. Whereas other teams are united by events, like the Avengers, or even united as chosen families, like the Guardians of the Galaxy, the Fantastic Four is known as Marvel's first family because they are a literal family. Yes Galactus threatens all of humanity and the Earth, but 'First Steps' grounds the story by focusing on the very specific danger Galactus poses for the Fantastic Four - not merely as heroes, but as a tightly-knit family happily expecting a baby. The plot is driven by a threat looming on Earth, but the story stakes are firmly rooted in the personal threat to the superheroes.
The best superhero flicks have fun with eye-popping visuals and amazing action sequences, but the script doesn't simply define its heroes by their powers. Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) can stretch his body to absurd lengths and 'First Steps' treats this ability nonchalantly, as he almost passively stretches his body around - but his true conflict is internal: Reed is the world's smartest man who sees the world only as a series of problems that must be solved. And as an expecting father, he's wracked by the anxieties of having a child, if the child will be healthy and safe - and the reality that even his intellect might not be able to solve every problem. Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) is more than just a woman who can become invisible - she's the team's heart and soul whose resolve and empathy allow her to unite the team and humanity in ways that her teammates cannot. Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) is all-too-happy to beat any enemy into submission, yet the script allows The Thing to interact with normal people. Despite his monstrous appearance, Ben has the most grounded interactions in the movie - allowing the audience to see the world's anxieties intensify first hand. And this iteration of Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) is more than just a wise-cracking and flamboyant hot head - the Human Torch gets to prove his mettle as a problem solver in his own right, as well as a fiercely devoted friend, brother and uncle. 'First Steps' treats the Four as humans first and superpowered icons second.
Coming in at just under two hours, 'First Steps' is among the shortest films in the MCU - and director Matt Shakman trims all the fat to focus the story squarely on the Four working to solve the problem of defeating Galactus. This straightforward, lean approach does mean the story has some uneven pacing - mostly because the script plays with time inconsistently. Days, weeks and even months pass - and it's difficult to track where the time skips are. For example, the film starts with Sue learning she is pregnant - then the story pretty quickly jumps to her very obvious pregnancy, signaling that she's obviously pregnant. Anytime the audience has to ask 'wait, how much time has passed? what has changed?' means the audience feels off balance. 'First Steps' has some abrupt time jumps that flow unevenly.
Although 'First Steps' largely exists outside of the larger MCU story, the Fantastic Four will eventually find themselves swept into the forthcoming 'Avengers: Doomsday' - and 'First Steps' wonderfully introduces the world to a family capable to standing up to apocalyptic threats by themselves. In the greater context of the MCU, these introductory movies are about defining the heroes as dynamic characters and showing their potential - because 'Avengers' movies always demand their heroes step up to some greater danger that none of them can defeat on their own. 'First Steps' illustrates who these characters are - and it will be exciting to see what they can do in future MCU movies.
Final verdict: 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' is a film worthy of one of the most beloved superhero teams in all of comics - not just Marvel.
Score: 4/5
'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' opens in theaters nationwide July 25. The comic book sci-fi adventure has a runtime of 115 minutes and is rated PG-13 for action/violence and some language.
