Fantastic Four: First Steps Review – Hits and Misses
As a longtime fan of the Fantastic Four, I was eagerly anticipating the release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The cast is excellent, the 1960s setting is a brilliant choice, and the production values, from the detailed sets and costumes to the design of the villain, are top-notch. It’s clear that director Matt Shakman has a genuine affection for this material. There are even moments that feel like a classic superhero movie, the kind I adore. All the ingredients are there, and yet, the film never quite comes together.
I’ve heard many people calling this film a bomb, but I wouldn’t go that far. I enjoyed the beginning and the ending, but the middle section felt drawn out and heavy. It takes too long to resolve the central conflict, and the story never manages to truly engage the audience with the Fantastic Four’s journey. Ultimately, I’m left feeling disappointed that Marvel hasn’t recaptured the magic that made the Fantastic Four so beloved in the first place.
A Promising Alternate Reality
The most appealing aspect of the film, in my opinion, is the setting. We’re transported to a parallel Earth, Earth-828, in a 1960s New York City that blends the retro-futuristic aesthetics of The Jetsons with the mid-century modern style of Mad Men – complete with cigarettes and whisky, of course. As this is the fifth attempt to get the Fantastic Four right on the big screen (following the ill-fated 1990s version, the 2005 and 2007 films, and the 2015 reboot), it’s a relief that we’re spared the origin story this time around.
Instead, we’re introduced to the Fantastic Four – Mr. Fantastic (played by the ever-welcome Pedro Pascal), Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Human Torch (Joseph Quinn), and The Thing (the always excellent Ebon Moss-Bachrach) – already established as celebrated heroes, living together as a family. And this family is about to grow, as Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman are expecting a baby, leaving us to wonder what powers their child might possess.
The film also features the charming Herbie, a robot assistant who helps with household chores, playing the Fantastic Four’s version of Rosie from The Jetsons. With so much potential at stake, the stage is set for a thrilling adventure.
The Silver Surfer’s Ominous Warning
Just as the Fantastic Four are settling into their domestic bliss, the Silver Surfer (played by the chrome-coated Julia Garner) appears, bearing a dire warning from her master, the world-devouring Galactus (voiced by the impressive Ralph Ineson). The Surfer announces that Galactus is coming to destroy the Earth, leaving the Fantastic Four no choice but to try and avert this catastrophic event.
This setup is rife with possibilities, as the Fantastic Four must use their powers and ingenuity to save the planet they’ve sworn to protect.
Missed Opportunities in Character Development
Despite the promising setup, the film ultimately falls short in fully realizing the potential of its characters. While the cast is undoubtedly talented, I don’t believe any of them have truly found their footing with their respective roles yet. This, in my opinion, is a significant flaw in the script, as the characters fail to evolve or grow in any meaningful way throughout the story.
The one exception is Vanessa Kirby’s Invisible Woman, who manages to take her character a few steps further, as she grapples with the challenges of motherhood amidst the threat of global annihilation. But for the most part, the main characters are more focused on doing than being, which is a problem that extends to the film’s villain, Galactus, as well.
Galactus: A Familiar Villain Trope
I absolutely love the design of Galactus, with his mechanical and biological elements blending together in a visually striking Mesopotamian-Assyrian aesthetic. However, he falls into the familiar trope of the typical superhero movie villain who wants to destroy everything simply because he can. For me, this type of villain has run its course, and I find myself wishing for more nuanced, complex antagonists that challenge the heroes in deeper, more compelling ways.
As I sat through the middle section of the film, finding my mind wandering to thoughts of running errands on the way home, it became clear that the narrative wasn’t quite clicking. And when I left the theater and reflected on the film’s strengths and weaknesses, I realized that no matter how good the individual elements may be, this Fantastic Four iteration will ultimately be subsumed into the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe, where it will likely become just another cog in the machine.
A Disappointing Lack of Enthusiasm
I’m genuinely saddened by the lack of enthusiasm I felt towards this film. The Fantastic Four have always held a special place in my heart, and I was hoping that this latest attempt would finally recapture the magic that made them such beloved characters. Sadly, it seems that Marvel itself has become the Galactus of the superhero genre, devouring the unique identities of its properties in service of the larger shared universe.
While I wish the cast and crew of The Fantastic Four: First Steps the best of luck, I can’t help but feel that the film’s shortcomings run deeper than just the execution. The underlying issue seems to be that Marvel has become too powerful, too dominant, and too focused on maintaining its cinematic empire to truly allow its individual properties to shine.
A Missed Opportunity
In the end, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a missed opportunity to truly revive the Fantastic Four and give them the cinematic treatment they deserve. While the individual elements are strong, the film never manages to come together in a way that fully engages the audience or captures the essence of these beloved characters. It’s a disappointment, but one that speaks to the larger challenges facing the Marvel Cinematic Universe as it continues to expand and homogenize its properties.
As a fan, I can only hope that future iterations of the Fantastic Four will find a way to break free from the constraints of the shared universe and rediscover the unique spark that made them so special in the first place. Until then, I’ll continue to revisit the classic comics and films, searching for that elusive “mojo” that has been so sorely lacking in this latest attempt.
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