The Fantastic 4: First Steps

 “We will protect you!”

Nostalgic, familial and galactic, The Fantastic 4: First Steps delivers a faithful and fresh MCU debut for Marvel’s First Family, that thrives when it focuses on the bonds of the core four, and overcomes some rushed world building to deliver a retrofuturist adventure that’s full of heart, hope and exciting new horizons. 

Discussion Points:

After 30+ years of cinematic attempts, we finally have a great Fantastic 4 film that balances the family at its core, with their larger wackier sci-fi world. Less focused on punching and more on problem solving, the Fantastic 4 are marked less by their strength, and more by their heart. And that’s the films biggest strength. Pedro Pascal may have too round a head for Reed for my liking, but he threads the needle well of burdened genius but loving husband. Vanessa Kirby is a standout as the powerful yet sensitive Sue Storm. Joseph Quinn plays a less rambunctious but still playful Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach delivers deep warmth and counsel as Ben Grimm. Despite being an introduction to this version of the quartet, their obvious bond and care for each other quickly endears them to the audience. We care about them, they care about their world, and their world cares about them, which means we care about their world. This makes the world-ending threat of Galactus, voiced celestially by Ralph Ineson, who’s heralded by the ethereal Shalla-Bol (Julia Garner), a threat that feels truly terrifying. Unfortunately, there’s only so much pathos and sentiment, that can salvage the otherwise rushed world building. Sadly not much time is given to developing their external connections, or more of the world they inhabit, which does look fantastic with its retrofuturistic ‘60s vibe accompanied by Michael Giacchino’s iconic and dynamic score. But whilst it may be a Galactus sized bite that’s too much to chew, I was still heartily engaged and excited to see more of the fantastic foursome in the future! A great start to Phase 6 and a continued step in the right direction for the MCU!