The Fantastic Four: First Steps Review

Credit - Marvel Studios

Very few things have put the “F” in failure like every Fantastic Four movie ever. The Tim Story set of films was a cash grab based on the success of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man movies, with no regard for quality. The 2015 reboot was the victim of creative differences that led to the film being one of the biggest disasters the comic book movie genre has ever seen. Roger Corman’s 1994 spin on the characters was so bad that it never saw the light of day.

While it’s far from perfect, The Fantastic Four: First Steps indicates there are better days ahead for the First Family of Marvel. First Steps, the family’s latest reboot and Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) debut, finds the team four years after they received their powers and in a battle to save Earth from Silver Surfer and Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds.

The first thing that stands out about First Steps, almost from the moment it starts, is how it’s the most visually stunning MCU film in a long time. While there is a ton of CGI in First Steps, it’s not as apparent or disruptive as it was in recent MCU films, save for Wakanda Forever and Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3.

The flight sequences with the Human Torch, Silver Surfer, and last but not least, Excelsior are incredible. The scaling of Galactus gives First Steps the presence that made MCU films an event rather than merely another comic book movie. First Steps’s more practical effects, such as Fantasticar, the Baxter Building, and the overall set design, also add to the film being a visual feast.

The pitch-perfect casting of First Steps is also a hallmark. While you don’t get much in the way of resemblance to their comic book counterparts, the chemistry among the superhero team is what makes this a huge win.

Because I’ve always preferred his television work over his work in film, I had my doubts about Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic. However, he quelled whatever question I or anyone else had as he absolutely nails the rigid intellectual persona needed for the part. Vanessa Kirby plays Sue Storm/Invisible Woman with a calmness that provides the perfect voice of humanity to counter Reed’s hard-line and serve as the yin to his yang. The Ben Grimm/Thing-Johnny Strom/Human Torch tandem is equally as strong as Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Joseph Quinn, respectively, rip on each other for most of First Steps’s comic relief.

For everything First Steps gets right visually and with its cast, the missteps behind the camera pose a Galactus-like threat to it. The pacing of the film is at the top of that list. While First Steps gets off to a great start that is equal parts entertaining and world-building, it comes to a screeching halt just as the film’s second act begins. The film didn’t need wall-to-wall action in the way a less science-based property would, but it was unnecessarily slow at times and missing scenes that could have easily helped move it along better.

First Steps also loses some luster with its writing. It’s not the worst because the script does an excellent job of world-building without a long, drawn-out origin story. It suffers its losses in the comedy column. Again, the film’s source material is rooted in science and its main characters are scientists, so no one should expect a full-blown comedy. That said, the comedy you insert into the script needs to land, and much of what’s in First Steps falls flat. The jokes that land in the film mostly come from Moss-Bachrach and Quinn’s chemistry and the duo's seeming improvisation at times.

The subpar writing also continued the recent MCU trend of anti-climactic third acts. The build-up to the team’s final battle far outweighs what ends up happening. With a villain like Galactus (who thanks to the superb voice acting of Ralph Ineson and the VFX/SFX work has Thanos-like potential), the stakes for Earth and the Fantastic Four should have appeared way higher than a few buildings falling.

While it doesn’t completely erase the recent sins of the MCU, First Steps is an excellent start to Phase Six of the universe. The seeming renewed commitment to elite visual and special effects, along with a perfect ensemble to portray some of Marvel’s most beloved characters, almost takes you back to peak MCU.

In terms of how to watch First Steps, IMAX or a similar format is the way to go, but 3-D is also a nice option.