With the success of many ensembles amid the Marvel media franchise – X-Men, the Avengers, the Defenders, the Marvels – one group that hasn’t fully hit the spot is Marvel’s First Family: The Fantastic Four. But this is not through want of trying: Tim Story directed a 2005 film starring Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Michael Chiklis and pre-Captain America Chris Evans, as well as a 2007 sequel. In 2015, Chronicle director Josh Trank would direct a reboot starring Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Jamie Bell and pre-Killmonger Michael B. Jordan. However, all three films didn’t score well with fans – so, ten years after Trank’s disastrous effort, Wandavision director is helming a bolder Fantastic Four as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Joseph Quinn, The Fantastic Four: The First Steps sees the group protect Earth against Galactus (voiced by Ralph Ineson), a cosmic entity that feeds on planets.
Although the MCU is entering Phase Six, the last stage of the Multiverse Saga, The First Steps doesn’t overly delve into the multiverse itself. Instead, it focuses on establishing the Fantastic Four as characters. In a retro-futuristic 1960s aka Earth-828, the group is the only known superheroes in this universe, and they have subsequently crafted a celebrity-like presence that has boosted their public profile. Furthermore, the film firmly establishes their family dynamic and attitudes towards their powers, bypassing the cliché awkwardness and acclimatisation of an origin story that would also feel out of place at this stage in the MCU. In other words, a conventional drama with a dysfunctional family (with the addition of Reed and Sue’s baby in the mix) is at the heart of The Fantastic Four: The First Steps.
Accompanying this seemingly ordinary creative direction is a sense of realism that doesn’t force the plot into the overly fantastical. Instead, human fears and emotions become the stepping stones of the narrative. Earth-828’s society has seemingly become so complacent about its survival in the hands of superheroes that it goes into an instinctive state of panic at a global threat. As for our heroes, their refreshing groundedness is a far cry from the testosterone-fuelled conflict between Iron Man and Captain America in Marvel’s Avengers Assemble. Upon learning of Sue’s pregnancy, she and Reed naturally and rightly worry about their child’s potential powers. The group is also open to admitting their own limits when it comes to the world’s survival, and their democratic approach in dealing with a new threat – the menacing Galactus – presents them as scientists first, heroes second. It feels like a surprisingly normal direction amid the global threat of a gender-swapped Silver Surfer (Julia Warner) and a giant planet-eating being who sees Earth as its next meal, yet it helps build the emotional investment in these considerate protagonists who would (sensibly) prefer to use their brains over brawn to ensure Earth’s survival.
The First Steps also steps away from the stereotypes that would now feel outdated or cringeworthy. While Pascal’s Reed Richards presents himself as a confident yet cautious leader, Vanessa Kirby’s steely-eyed Sue is a committed and determined matriarch instead of being reduced to eye candy. In addition, the normally hot-headed Johnny Storm (Quinn) is an understated presence that hides his intelligence behind his bravado. Meanwhile, Ben Grimm (Bachrach) presents himself as the icon of the local community, who is confident in his skills as an astronaut, as well as his strength. Without the fear of being labelled or typecast, the core cast delivers performances that not only exude charm but also gel well together.
From Pascal and Kirby’s touching chemistry as husband and wife to Quinn and Bachrach’s brother-like banter, there is a natural harmony that has been missing from an MCU film for a while. Shakman’s direction balances the group dynamic as both a family and a group to create a rare wholesomeness, compared to prior MCU instalments where heroes find themselves ‘placed’ together only to face conflict before collaboration. Combined with the fact that their common goal – saving Earth – becomes increasingly personal, there is more than duty driving Earth-838’s superheroes while making Galactus a more menacing threat.
While The First Steps has its fair share of visual effects, it is easily one of the most aesthetically stunning MCU films, with Kasra Farahani’s amazing production design capturing its retrofuturism perfectly. Frankly, the only sore points in The Fantastic Four are few and far between, ranging from an incredulous and impossible act of global collaboration to a scattered fight scene that overly divides the heroes, rather than seeing them unite as a team. However, these factors will not deter audiences from the delight of Shakman’s directorial efforts or the ensemble cast, as they deliver the best MCU film in ages.
After the previous lacklustre films, it is great to see these iconic Marvel roles expanded to a more fitting and endearing group dynamic, indicating that the future of the Fantastic Four franchise – and the characters’ significance in the MCU – are in safe hands.
The Fantastic Four: The First Steps is out in UK cinemas on Thursday 24 July.
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Director: Matt Shakman; Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan, Ian Springer (screenwriters)
Stars: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Julia Garner, Natasha Lyonne, Paul Walter Hauser, Ralph Ineson
Runtime: 114 minutes
Country: USA
