‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ is a *small* step in the right direction | Movie review
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is a lot. The stylized direction is fun, the action is whimsical, the visuals are incredible, and the cast is to die for, but I left the theater overwhelmed with feelings, good and bad.
Being born in 1999 put me in a position to grow up in the golden age of comic book movies. “X-Men,” “Spider-Man,” and “The Fantastic Four” all came out before I was old enough to understand what a bad movie was. Meaning, I grew up really enjoying the 2005 “Fantastic Four.” I remember begging my parents to go to Burger King, despite our family never going there, so I could get the “Fantastic Four” toys, and I remember playing the “Fantastic Four” game on GameCube. Looking back, I am still fond of that movie and its 2007 sequel, but I can understand that they aren’t necessarily meaningful in any way and butcher the villains specifically.
So when Disney finally acquired 20th Century Fox (now 20th Century Studios) in 2019 and was able to push a “Fantastic Four” movie into production, I was jazzed. Everything leading up to “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” felt perfect. The casting seemed great, the visual direction seemed like a home run, and the shift of story direction for the MCU was perfect timing for this film. Now having seen the film, I have mixed feelings: mostly good feelings, but some bad.
The good: Visually, the film is stunning. The ’50s/’60s aesthetic mixed with all the futuristic tech feels like it’s ripped right out of Tomorrowland. It is, in fact, a home run. I expect the production design team to get some well-deserved recognition come award season. The CGI at times can feel wonky, but I think it might be due to the large number of practical sets used throughout the film. The action fits the vibe. The film itself isn’t super “action-y,” but when it happens is light and colorful, and feels like it was ripped right out of a comic book.
One necessity for this film to work was the family. Obviously, the cast is star-studded, but they are also just perfect castings for these characters, specifically Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm (The Thing) and Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm (Invisible Woman). “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” works best when all four members are in the room together and interacting. The dynamic and chemistry far exceeds any other iteration of these characters on screen, and I hope we continue to see these actors in these roles of the years to come.
My issues with “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” come down to my own expectations. This movie throws a lot at you. Even as someone familiar with the characters and stories, this film overwhelms you with information to the point where I felt only one character gets a full arc. I am not one to speak for others or tell you how you’re going to like a movie, but I do think “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is for die-hards who are in the know. The first half lays things out nicely and has an incredible pace, but there is a drastic difference between the halves, and by the end I think it’ll leave people unfamiliar to think the conclusion is silly and confusing.
On top of that, my expectations were that this would directly impact the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday” film currently in production. Aside from one thing, there’s not much to get you excited or tell you the direction this ship is heading, and that let me down. I know that’s on me.
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is a fresh addition to the MCU and another colorful comic book movie to come out within the past two weeks (see our “Superman” review). Plus the score RULES. I’ll need a second viewing to give it a true chance, which will be opening night.
SCORE: “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” 3.5/5
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is rated PG-13 and is in theaters July 25! There are TWO post-credit scenes.
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