"The Fantastic Four: First Steps" Review
A mid-century whirl-wind with a fatal flaw
SPOILER FREE
The task of creating a Fantastic Four movie has proven to be a difficult one. Previous iterations have failed to capture audiences as effectively as the comics or cartoons. Despite interesting characters and thrilling plots to work with, the Fantastic Four gathered a reputation as being unadaptable. Now, the MCU is rebooting this franchise once again with The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Were they more successful than previous attempts? Certainly. By how much? I’m not sure.
The movie starts four years after the space mission that gave the Fantastic Four their powers. All seems to be well in the world. Under the watchful eye of the Fantastic Four, Earth is at peace, and no threat is too large. Until, a messenger comes to alert them that the planet has been marked for death by the colossal space being, Galactus. The rest of the movie follows the group’s attempts to defeat Galactus and save Earth— piece of cake.
With a plot following the Fantastic Four exclusively, the lead actors’ performances carry a lot of weight. They prove mostly up to the task. Joseph Quinn delivers the best performance of the movie as Johnny Storm (Human Torch). He balances the character’s inherent humor with the gravity of the situation remarkably well. Johnny is not historically a character with incredible depth, but Quinn brings out his depth without detracting from his light-heartedness. While not always the center of the movie, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Brimm (the Thing) makes effective use of his screen time. His role is primarily one of comedic relief and support, which Moss-Bachrach plays well.
However, the emotional core of the movie lies with Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm (the Invisible Woman) and Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards (Mister Fantastic). Kirby clearly understood her assignment as a fierce, protective mother with unyielding determination. Sue’s willpower guides the group in many ways, and Kirby captures the essence of those qualities.
On the other hand, Pascal struggles to locate Reed Richards. This iteration characterizes Reed as a more nervy, overthinking type of genius who is often guided by his fears. Pascal locates the anxious aspects of Reed, but he cannot find the brilliant leader side. A new take on the character is exciting, but Reed is the leader of the Fantastic Four. If we don’t believe him as the “smartest man in the world,” then the entire movie becomes less immersive. Pascal is a great actor, but he may be miscast.
With half of its emotional core fractured, The Fantastic Four does suffer. Its stakes diminish, and the audience can become more awake to the flaws.
Luckily, the movie’s aesthetics do some of that heavy lifting. The entire production style is a type of retrofuturism. Its design harkens back to the 50s and 60s with mid-century modern architecture and fashion that Twiggy could have donned. That vintage style is mixed with futuristic elements such as flying cars, space suits, and robots. Blended together, The Fantastic Four looks like a mid-century dream of the future. Each frame is captivating by its style alone.
Another captivating aspect of the movie is its action set-pieces. Some venture into CGI overload, but most manage to stay grounded. While not the best-looking scenes, the pace of the action maintains its momentum. These sequences feel like a comic book, with excitement at every corner. There is always something new to see, always a development our heroes must face.
The movie is almost too fast paced, but that pace may be the only thing saving it from boredom, as it is nearly devoid of themes. There are threads of family and the value of humanity, but there is not enough of any theme to evoke feelings in the audience beyond “that was cool.” I found myself grasping at straws to see anything more than an exciting story. While not every movie needs to be emotional or have intricately woven themes, they do need to make the audience care. Or, at least, they need to make an impression.
It may sound like I didn’t like The Fantastic Four, but that’s not true. I liked being in the theater watching it. I liked watching Johnny Storm fly through the air in fire and the entire team hurdling through space. It just left me with nothing beyond that experience. I won’t be thinking about it when I go to sleep. I won’t be texting people asking if they’ve seen it. In a year, I may have to be reminded that I saw it, and when I am, I will remember action and 60s vibes, nothing more.
That might be all you need this movie to be, but to me, it’s lazy writing and disappointment from a studio that I know can do better.
I recommend this movie to those who love mid-century aesthetics, movies with space travel, and prefer plot-heavy stories.