Is this a sign that the MCU is getting back to its best? After the critical success of Thunderbolts*, the MCU has welcomed The Fantastic Four: First Steps into the fold, following the titular team as they work to save their planet from the all-consuming Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his Silver Surfer (Julia Garner).
Not only is this film the best of the many Fantastic Four iterations, but it’s hands-down the best film the MCU has produced in years. Right off the bat I’m going to compare this to another recent superhero release, Superman. Both films take the same approach of foregoing the origin story and throwing us into a world where our heroes have been actively taking down villains for years. Only, one executes it perfectly and the other stumbles. F4 takes the tl:dr approach by communicating their origin and what they’ve been up to in their last four years via a sequence of news reports in a talk show introduction. It’s brief, it’s fun, and it gets everyone up to speed immediately. Superman doesn’t do any of that – it’s more focused on setting up an ensemble of side characters and feels like the part two to a part one we never got. All in all, Superman’s shortcomings made me appreciate what F4 accomplished even more.
I can’t say I’ve cared about a new team of heroes on their introduction quite like this group right here. The writers have taken an approach that focuses on each member of the F4 as people with inner struggles over just happy-go-lucky superheroes. This does a great job of humanising them and creating relatable connections between the characters and audience. The strength of the writing highlights not only their unique personalities, but also sells us on their dynamic as a team. Without having seen their upbringing, so much of the dialogue and their interactions paints a picture of their relationships and where they stand with each other. It’s also not a situation where one member gets all the character development and the rest are shunned. The narrative focus is well shared amongst the team, giving everyone their own crucial moments to shine. As a result, I feel like everyone who walks away from this movie will have their own favourite member, and all answers are valid. Personally, I believe Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) is the strongest character and has the most impactful arc of the bunch, but I also loved following everyone else’s journey.
Ensuring every character has an important role in influencing the story and tone is one thing, but it’s up to the actors to execute that. Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards is the one piece of casting I was worried I’d have a hard time overcoming. Not only is he so recognisable, but the man is in literally everything Hollywood produces – two other high-profile movies and an HBO series in this year alone. However no one should ever doubt this man as he somehow disappears into the role and becomes unrecognisable. He perfectly presents Richards’ “smarter than thou” intelligence, team-leader demeanour and fatherly behaviour. The father figure aspect of his role is the one he delivers the best – there’s a softness to his performance and he brilliantly conveys the stresses of what it would be like to become a parent. Acting alongside him is Vanessa Kirby, and she’s wonderful across every scene. She really encompasses the “hell hath no fury like a woman scorned” attitude that makes her character shine in crucial moments. Her chemistry with Pascal is crucial to the team dynamic and I don’t know if I’ve seen another duo look more like husband and wife than those two.
As Johnny Storm, Joseph Quinn steps into the role and nails exactly what makes the Human Torch so damn hot. His smartass attitude and place as the larrikin in the team ensures he brings comedic levity to a number of group scenes, but he also delivers on the more serious emotional front. I can’t say any more than that, but it’s a layered performance that elevates all facets of the film. Last but not least is Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm, the tough on the outside, soft on the inside wrecking ball in the crew. Not only does he have great back-and-forth interactions with Quinn and other members of the cast, but he brings a lot of the wholesome energy that fuels the story. Despite being covered in layers of visual effects, his performance does shine through and exhibits plenty of personality through his rocky exterior.
Let’s talk scope for a minute. The MCU understood the assignment in that this movie needed to be huge in order to give the F4 a proper debut. It may be a (largely) Earth-bound narrative, but the scale is enormous thanks to a huge focus on space and the presence of a planet-eating villain. The size and scale of the narrative and the threat sends the tension levels through the roof. I found myself forgetting that I actually needed to breathe during some of the most tense and exciting sequences. There’s one space-set sequence that’s fast-paced and packed with more thrills than your average rollercoaster ride. It had me frozen in fear – stressing for the safety of these characters who I’ve known for not even an hour. Part of the fun of these action sequences is getting to see the powers of the F4 at play, and boy is it a blast. Some powers get a little more use than others, but to be fair Sue Storm’s invisibility is way more versatile than Stretch Armstrong over here. That being said, each power does get a creative moment or two to really shine, so no one is left out.
While it’s a tense and exciting ride, there’s no shortage of heart weaved into the story. Saving the world is one thing, but there’s strong themes of family and parenting at the forefront of the narrative the whole way through. This leads to a few key emotional punches that are only impactful thanks to the focus on character, family and relationships. Overall it contributes to the film’s serious tone, but one that’s not without a little comedic spark. It’s more dramatic than it is comedic, but there’s a few great funny moments that come from our characters sharing some banter and hitting their recurring jokes. Tonally it’s very strong and consistent, something I need to praise in an MCU that tends to go for a comedic adventure more often than not.
Without going into what they get up to in the film, I’d be remiss not to highlight the impact both Galactus and Silver Surfer have on the narrative. What I loved about Galactus is that he’s not just a big mechanical presence – he’s emotive and has some dialogue, which allows Ralph Ineson to bring out the character’s menacing qualities. He’s huge and imposing, and that’s felt immensely every time he appears on screen. Then there’s Julia Garner as Silver Surfer, delivering a layered performance that reads well even through her slick, shiny exterior. Her scenes are some of the more visually impressive and memorable, which is saying a lot given her screen time.
The unique identity of the film seems to have been a huge focus for director Matt Shakman when bringing this world to life. It all starts with the aesthetic, which adopts a Jetsons-like retro-futuristic look to really hammer home the idea that this is an alternate universe’s Earth. It would’ve been so easy to just do another modern-looking Earth, but I appreciate the bold direction as it elevates the film in every way. It’s visually stunning with beautifully detailed sets and costumes to marvel at. Additionally, it paves the way for Michael Giacchino’s electrifying score, which includes a fantastic theme for this new team. The entire aesthetic of the movie is perfectly curated and without fault, with every technical element working together right down to the impressive visual effects.
In the end, The Fantastic Four: First Steps has done the impossible – it has delivered a new post-Endgame high for the MCU in a year where it seemed Thunderbolts* would be the highlight. This well-balanced film brings everything to the table, from exciting action sequences to heart-pounding thrills and a number of emotional character arcs. It’s the writing of those characters which allows the film to thrive. This is the best F4 crew ever assembled on screen, rich with charisma, heart and the authentic feeling that they’re a tight-knit team. Then when you add the brilliant performances to the mix, you have yourself this recipe for success. Now that some of the most important figures in the MCU’s future are set up, I’m firmly on board with whatever they’re cooking up.
9.4/10
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