Fourth times the charm in Marvel Studio’s retro-futuristic space adventure, a refreshing return to form starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach.
Marvel Studios have finally cracked The Fantastic Four. It’s been a long road, with two widely criticized outings and a mega-flop giving rise to the theory that the ‘FF’ are jinxed in Hollywood. Yet, if The Incredibles proved anything, it’s that a superpowered family drama is not only possible, but some of the most engaging material the genre has to offer.
Enter, First Steps, a brazenly kitsch sci-fi adventure set in an alternative 1960s. On Earth 828, it’s been four years since The Fantastic Four, a crew of astronauts-come-superheroes, emerged as the protectors of Earth. To the world, Mr Fantastic (Pedro Pascal, who else?), Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Human Torch (Joseph Quinn), and The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), are a team of cheery heroes. Behind closed doors, they are a real, oftentimes dysfunctional, family.
Much has been made of the actors off-screen dynamic, an instantaneous familial bond assumedly struck up by Marvel marketing. Pascal and Kirby share a genuine chemistry as a couple who, in the film’s opening minutes, find out they’re expecting a child. Quinn and Moss-Bachrach are opposites-turned-buddies, one a self-obsessed daredevil and the other a literal rock trying to find his place in the world. Their natural cohesion as a family unit is a highlight, no marketing wizardry there.
Catastrophe is never far, however. Unjustly disturbing Sunday dinner (Reed and Sue have already drawn warnings for being late) we’re introduced to Silver Surfer (Julia Garner), the surfboard riding herald of Galactus (Ralph Ineson), devourer of worlds. She’s come to Earth with a message, “this planet is marked for death”, she drones in a robotic voice that’s oddly hypnotic. The stage is set, Marvel’s first family have to save the world.
Director Matt Shackman (WandaVision) is a clear advocate for practical sets, models of spaceships and creatures, and real locations. The team’s robot companion H.E.R.B.I.E is an actual creation in the spirit of R2-D2, a scene-stealing delight that talks in beeps and boops provided by Star Wars veteran Matthew Wood, and he’s sure to steal the show for many a young viewer.
Herb, as Johnny calls him, is one in a long line of back to basics techniques ushered in by Shackman. He’s invested in making a richly detailed, tactile world that feels alive — tube TVs, buttons and switches abound — perhaps to the detriment of individual characters. Our ‘60s New York has such personality that The Fantastic Four often play second fiddle to production design.
As well as writers Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson and Jeff Kaplan, Shackman is an obvious fan of Interstellar. Much of First Steps middle feels inspired, if not directly ripped, from Nolan’s sci-fi masterpiece. It’s refreshing to see time dilation and neutron star slingshots hold such importance in a Marvel movie, with the FF’s origins as astronauts providing exciting fuel for action.
Even so, it’s territory we’re familiar with. As Silver Surfer rides the waves of a wormhole and The Thing pilots into a black hole to slow down time, there’s a feeling of déjà vu – Interstellar and Star Wars did it ages ago, and arguably better.
Though, Galactus is something new. He’s taller than a skyscraper and billions of years old, a vision of pure tension and nerves and the idea of him eating a planet holds a certain terror. With the Four’s frantic attempts to thwart him proving the most engaging moments – there’s some trickiness with planet-sized teleportation – we have a palpable uptick in quality from previous Marvel outings.
The only moment more palpable is when Galactus reaches Earth. As he touches down in New York, he’s washed him clean of all mystery and intrigue. As an active villain, he’s a giant action figure crashing into skyscrapers, as if puppeted by a six-year-old with a sugar rush.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is at its best when Shackman goes small, zeroing in on character moments and the unending drama of a superhero family. Throw in a baby, and there’s enough action and charm to last a trilogy.
It’s grasp on Galactus as a concept is better than an in-action villain, but it’s the best Fantastic Four movie to date and there’s enough comedic and touching family antics to make a mind-numbing third act feel worth it.
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps is in UK cinemas July 25.
