I absolutely adore the Fantastic Four and have ever since I was a kid. Some of my earliest memories are watching the original Tim Story films and the 90s cartoons. However, I, like many others, believe they’ve never been done justice in terms of a good adaptation. So, it brings me tremendous joy to report that The Fantastic Four: First Steps is not only the best adaptation of this group of characters we’ve seen to date, but one of the MCU’s most unique and exciting offerings in ages. Nearly everything that WandaVision helmer Matt Shakman does in this movie works, and the result is movie magic at its finest.
Like every Marvel movie these days, casting is always on point and you can thank Sarah Finn and the in-house casting department for that. The Fantastic Four themselves are all impeccably cast. Vanessa Kirby is the heart and soul of the movie, giving a phenomenal performance as Sue Storm. You feel for her and her maternal struggle and it’s due to how commanding Kirby is on screen. Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Joseph Quinn steal the show as Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm, with their chemistry and banter rivalling Michael Chiklis and Chris Evans. Finally, Pedro Pascal is the biggest surprise of this movie, delivering a heartfelt performance as Reed Richards, casting all doubts away I had going into this. Reed was the role that everyone was unsure about during the development process, with so many different names being thrown out at one point. However, I think it all worked out for the best.
The supporting cast is no slouch either though. While not exactly acted out, I loved Matthew Wood’s R2-D2 like performance for H.E.R.B.I.E, solidifying him as the arguable MVP of the movie and a new fan-favourite character. Ralph Ineson was also the perfect choice for Galactus. After 18 years of waiting, Galactus is no longer a cloud and the planet eating monster is here in full force. Ineson’s voice and performance is absolutely commanding, truly making the force of destruction feel real. Julia Garner’s performance as Shalla-Bal is also a major surprise in this movie. It’s surprisingly powerful for a supporting role but also very emotional. I believe her arc in this film is extremely underrated and makes it my favourite adaptation of the character. Sarah Niles, Paul Walter Hauser, and Natasha Lyonne are all great as well, albiet criminally under-utilized in the film. I wish we got to see more of them.
The 60’s aesthetic was probably the most eye-catching part of this movie and made it visually dazzling. Everything from the Ted Gilbert show, to interior of the Baxter Building, to the costumes for the Fantastic Four, it harkens back to the Golden and Silver Ages of comics. Even the advertising for the marketing, as well as the in-world ads (The Coppertone billboard is my favourite) all feel part of the time they’re in. The space sequences are the tonal opposite from the Earth scenes. It feels extremely modern and flashy.
Marvel’s biggest issue recently has most definitely been VFX. It’s no secret that their VFX houses have been overworked since the pandemic and their effects have been laughable in some instances. Thankfully, even though First Steps wasn’t even filming this time last year, the effects are so damn good it looks like they’ve been working on this meticulously for ages now. The most obvious instance is Ben Grimm, who was a blend of practical and computer effects. He fits in seamlessly to this universe and is my favourite interpretation of the character in live-action. Galactus and Silver Surfer also look amazing, each feeling like they’ve been ripped straight from the comics and cartoons visually. Finally, all 4 of the group’s powers look authentic and seamlessly weave into the MCU, never feeling out of place or unnatural to their characters. The First Family and its supporting cast has truly never looked so good.
The weakest part of First Steps at times is the writing. The final script is credited to 4 people (Probably more uncredited) and it shows at times. I’m not sure how I feel about the decision to condense the group’s origin story into a 5 minute sizzle reel. As a comic-book fan, I went into it with knowledge of their history but it’s been over a decade since the last Fantastic Four film, and a long time since they were faithfully and truly adapted well. For the general audiences, this wasn’t really the smart decision. Making the movie about 25 minutes longer, just for some important exposion and more world building would’ve been nice.
The writing and dynamics for the Fantastic Four are good for the most part, the story isn’t exactly the strongest in the world, and heavily relies on the cast and visual pizzaz to get by. The world building is decent enough, thanks to Shakman’s direction and aesthetics as mentioned before, but the writing could have truly elevated this to a flawless movie. Thematically, I appreciate the focus on family, grief, loss, and togetherness. It feels like the perfect recipe for a Fantastic Four story and for the most part, works. The family aspect is the best we’ve ever seen put to live-action, and you truly believe this group is united and together. Grief and loss are also done decently for the most part, but due to the lack of a true connection we have with these characters (They’re new to the MCU so its no fault of anyone really) it doesn’t fully live up to its potential. I think these themes would be done better in a sequel where the characters are more established, but overall I think the mark is slightly missed.
If you’ve been reading my work for any period of time, you know how much I adore Michael Giacchino and his work. I’ve been very thankful to speak with him about his work in the MCU as well. However, I think he’s just reached a new peak with his score in First Steps. It’s a retro-futuristic, cosmic, and absolutely enchanting work of art that cements itself as an all-time superhero score with its main theme alone. The second Mondo inevitably releases this on vinyl, I’ll be the first one to buy it.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a movie I’ve wanted my entire life. Marvel’s First Family is finally given the proper treatment they deserve in film and done justice. I have nostalgia for the Tim Story films I grew up on but they never really properly adapted this group. What Kevin Feige and Matt Shakman have done here seemed impossible until now and they nailed it. The cast is perfect, the visuals are jaw-dropping and even though the story isn’t exactly strong, every other element of the film makes up for it and elevates the story to new heights. First Steps is the best MCU film we’ve seen in a very long time and yet another clear sign that Marvel Studios is regaining control leading up to Doomsday.
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