A New Era of Hope in Superhero Films
This year’s superhero films have taken a refreshing turn, moving away from the cynical cameos and nihilistic antiheroes that have dominated recent years. Instead, we’re seeing a return to the kind of heroism that focuses on saving a cat stuck up a tree, dreams of peace, and solidarity. In the case of Thunderbolts, it even suggests the possibility of a really big hug. This shift towards optimism is a welcome change, and it seems like Marvel is finally getting things right with its latest offering.
Marvel has always had the potential to create something special with its First Family, the Fantastic Four. Even though there was a misstep in 2015 with an unnecessarily dour film, the studio has managed to bring together a cast as charming as Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn. The sleek, stylish retrofuturistic aesthetics of the film also add to its appeal. With the pure wonderment of Michael Giacchino’s score, The Fantastic Four: First Steps shines with a kind of wide-eyed idealism that is truly lovely.
However, the timing of this release is unfortunate, as it comes just a few weeks after DC’s Superman. That film, directed by James Gunn, is deeply rooted in his unique style. In contrast, First Steps has four credited writers and a director, Matt Shakman, who previously delivered similar earnestness and Sixties nostalgia with the TV series WandaVision. Yet, he hasn’t yet developed a strong enough voice to anchor such an incident-packed picture.
A New Universe and a Familiar Team
Like Superman, First Steps skips the origin story, instead dropping us into the middle of the alternative universe Earth-828. This is the same universe we’ve been watching in the MCU (Earth-199999), where beehives and Pan Am airlines are part of everyday life. Gadgets are referred to as “doo-hickeys,” and even pregnancy tests come equipped with sleek chrome and blinking lights.
The Fantastic Four are already four years into their superpowered careers and universally beloved. Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pascal) is the smartest guy around, able to stretch like a rubber band. His wife Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Kirby) uses her force fields and ability to broker peace deals, including one with the subterranean kingdom of the Mole Man (Paul Walter Hauser). Her brother Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Quinn) is known for his screen idol good looks and intense blue contacts. And Ben Grimm/The Thing (Moss-Bachrach) is a big rock who’s fun with the kids.
Sue discovers she’s pregnant, but before the family can finish baby-proofing their headquarters with the help of their robot assistant H.E.R.B.I.E., a shiny woman on a hoverboard (Julia Garner’s Shalla-Bal/Silver Surfer) arrives. She warns them that their planet will soon be the next meal of Galactus, a 14-billion-year-old cosmic entity with a bottomless appetite.
A Cosmic Adventure with Room for Growth
The interiors designed by Kasra Farahani are a space-age dream, and Alexandra Byrne’s costumes are enviable. Even Galactus’s realm has a nice HR Giger-tilt to it. These films are at their best when they embrace the cosmic and supernatural. Despite some awkward effects and a refusal to let Mister Fantastic bend into any truly goofy shapes, the world of First Steps is fun to explore.
However, the journey through this world is a bit jarring. There’s an oddly binary attitude where the film either focuses on plot or character, but rarely both. When dealing with the former, the dialogue often disintegrates into unfunny banter between Ben and Johnny. It’s ironic that Ben is reluctant to use his catchphrase, “it’s clobberin’ time,” considering everything else he says is basically “Marvel Quip 101.”
Heartfelt Performances and Ethical Dilemmas
When the film slows down, the cast delivers truly lovely work. Quinn gives Johnny a kind of unspoken nobility, while Moss-Bachrach allows Ben to share some tenderness with Natasha Lyonne’s Rachel Rozman. Pascal brings out the struggle between logic and emotion in Reed, and Kirby offers a tender yet ferocious portrayal of motherhood, culminating in a rare feminist fist-pump moment that feels natural.
Reed and Sue’s marriage also presents one of the most fascinating ethical quandaries in Marvel history, though it’s resolved quickly. Angst isn’t on the cards for Marvel right now, and while it’s nice to see the genre embrace wonder again, there’s still room for growth.
Cast and Release Details
Directed by Matt Shakman, The Fantastic Four: First Steps stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Julia Garner, Natasha Lyonne, Paul Walter Hauser, and Ralph Ineson. The film is rated 12A and runs for 114 minutes. It is set to hit cinemas on 24 July.
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