THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS
Starring: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Julia Garner, and Ralph Ineson
Director: Matt Shakman
NICK
The Fantastic Four have always been a bigger deal in the comics than film, but Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Joseph Quinn are here to change that. This cast brings new light and tremendous chemistry to the MCU as the definitive version of Marvel's first family. The visuals are on point - especially when the team uses their powers, which is smartly never overdone. Also, if I’m being honest, although the heavy focus on the themes of parenthood, companionship, and purpose masks a fairly simple story, it was just nice living in a world in peril with no Avengers to save it.
AMARÚ
First Steps blazes a breakneck pace, and ironically, it’s a beautifully turbulent second act action sequence that settles it into its heartfelt story. Marvel’s first family is introduced with a TV special cold open that never transitions out of montage-like editing, even after the special presentation ends. So many real-time scenes leave out crucial lived-in seconds between cuts, and make it hard to fully breathe in their lovely chemistry. Don’t worry, we finally have our family, as the foursome is portrayed magnificently grounded, especially an emotionally resonant Vanessa Kirby. But director Matt Shakman let down a fantastic film with his poor cutting room decisions.
QUENTIN
I’ll do my best not to make the obvious pun, but First Steps is the best “solo” MCU movie since Ragnarok. I base that on two main drivers: 1. the 60s retro-futuristic production design does a lot of heavy lifting, as it makes for perhaps the freshest experience of the entire MCU; and 2. I never read Fantastic Four comics, so it’s the first superhero movie, Marvel or otherwise, in a long while that created genuine suspense since I didn’t know exactly where the story was headed. Couple that with excellent casting and little-to-no fat in the script, and you’ve got something…uh…fantastic. Damn, almost made it.
ROBERT
People always complained that the Fantastic Four was a comic property not built for a live-action adaptation because the team was too weird. I mean, I ride for the Tim Story iterations, but they aren’t “good” by any stretch. However, Matt Shakman and Kevin Feige put forth a gorgeous effort with First Steps as it is visually breathtaking and emotionally grounded in the inner machinations of a family with cosmic abilities. Even at its cheesiest or most outrageous, I was never phased because the personal dynamics of the four leads were so strong, and the cool factor of our villains never waned. I cannot wait for their addition to the Avengers at large, or for another team endeavor.
KATIE
I found watching The Fantastic Four: First Steps to be a fruitless experience. The retrofuturistic style is fun, but it is overshadowed by the distracting CGI, which makes it murky and dulls the vibrancy overall. It lacks any tension, which I wouldn't have minded if the characters were compelling, the visuals were appealing, or the cast had any chemistry. At this point, I don’t know if I can truly enjoy Marvel films anymore, since I’m always aware that characters will return in future installments in the franchise, so it feels like they don’t even attempt to build suspense.
ADRIANO
As the resident Marvel detractor, I have mixed feelings about The Fantastic Four: First Steps, but I lean positive. The four main actors (Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach) are great, and the retro aesthetic is visually pleasing. Yet right after a visually remarkable sequence, I noticed it all started to feel narratively chopped up. Plot lines and character beats set up in the first half were rushed to an unfulfilling conclusion, making it all feel like a wash. When it finished, despite some good elements sticking out, this was a case of been there, done that.
BODE
Everyone knows that the Fantastic Four have had a rough go when it comes to their big screen escapades, so the pressure was on for the MCU to deliver a version that would feel definitive to those who hold these characters dear. First Steps is certainly the best attempt, but that’s basically by default. While an Interstellar-inspired first half promises something bold and exciting, it later settles into a plot-driven rhythm that’s atypical of this franchise, lessening some of the fun that was initially present. It still passes the time decently enough, but not much more than that.
