Fantastic Four: First Steps review - Marvel herald a super sick family with no-so fantastic surprises

Too busy focusing on the power of family bonding and love, Marvel’s Fantastic Four: First Steps fails to keep you on the edge, despite a fitting cast and visual aesthetics.

After much anticipation, doubts and months-long promotions, Fantastic Four is out in the theatres. While we were expecting something groundbreaking with the new cast, we get the same old space survival story with an aesthetic that keeps you hooked. Marvel has been through multiple phases, and most of us have already lost count. But considering how the studio announced its next big bad, fans have been looking forward to seeing Fantastic Four and how they will play out in the universe.  

Right from the start, you are welcomed into this quirky universe with the fantastic score by Michael Giacchino, a glorious track that has been stuck in our heads since the trailer was released. We are soon introduced to the family, as Mr. and Mrs. Fantastic, Reed and Sue discover that they are expecting a child. Before they can savour this moment and embrace the journey of parenthood, while Johnny and Ben prepare to become uncles and Reed focuses on baby-proofing their superhero lair, the Silver Surfer visits them. Gliding on her surfboard, this cosmic scout who is on a search for worlds for Galactus, our big bad for the season, warns them. Unfortunately for our family, unlike other villains who planned to rule Earth, Galactus intends to devour it to satisfy his insatiable hunger.

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Unlike every other Marvel family, which is often dysfunctional or torn apart, this one is dedicated to sticking together until the very end. There is no unnecessary drama, and enough love to literally save the entire universe. Most of this success also stems from the impeccable chemistry among the cast, which only enhances the otherwise weak plotline. Reflecting the true essence of the film, the bond of this family, the cast embodies it, delivering wholesome and heartwarming moments between them. Pedro Pascal plays the super smart Reed, capable of predicting the worst and finding solutions. It’s no surprise that he portrays another on-screen father, terrified of what fatherhood will look like for someone also tasked with protecting the world. Vanessa Kirby embodies the strong-willed Sue, who isn't afraid to confront threats head-on, and her confidence supports Reed through his breakdowns. Their chemistry feels a little too real to watch, with both complimenting each other and making the characters better when they are together. Joseph Quinn’s Johnny is flirtatious and charming, while Ebon’s Ben brings a heart of gold despite being a lonely soul. While their characters are not as well-defined as Reed and Sue, you still enjoy the little quirks and quips that they share, reminding us of the playful cousins we all like hanging out with. However, together, they convincingly portray a super reliable family we can trust to save the world!

While the movie nailed the casting, we can’t say much about the plot. The plot is not something we haven’t seen before. It follows the same formula with a new world-threatening villain that our heroes need to save us from. But once again, the bar was not set very high; all this movie needed to do was be slightly better than the 2015 version, which it manages to achieve. Marvel went with the title and decided to let these characters have their ‘first steps’ into the MCU, especially since they will have bigger roles to play. But more importantly, bigger shoes to fill.  The story ends up becoming like the easiest game of heads up, where we can guess the next move even before we see the word. The focus was too much on family and the power of love; even though it keeps you intrigued, you miss the shock or surprise element throughout the movie. Where the movie failed, it managed to cover up with its incredible CGI and aesthetic that set the perfect stage for how these characters and their powers will be explored in future projects. 

The retro-futuristic aesthetic of the movie enhances the wackiness of this universe, making it even more intriguing when you realise that the director, Matt Shakman, who also helmed WandaVision, another Marvel masterpiece that experimented with visuals and time periods as a storytelling technique. We can also be grateful that the film uses a single montage within the film to give us a view into the team's escapades that altered their DNA and caused them to have anomalies that gave them power, especially since we have seen it before. The portrayal of Galactus is another element where Marvel knocks it out of the park. It is the best a space villain has looked since Thanos, making it easier for us to forget He Who Remains, which I'm sure is enough to make Marvel happy. Having Ralph Ineson voice Galactus was probably a good idea, considering how his menacing voice could literally shake the seats. We can agree, it's a great time for blondes; they are saving the world. With Eve in Superman or Johnny in this film, we are seeing characters who are often defined and boxed into their impetence and beauty; they have proved why they are more than that and can use their brains to save the world. 

Although the plot fails to surprise us, Fantastic Four: First Steps succeeds in reintroducing Marvel's first family with heart, humor, and a sense of identity. At the end of the day, it is a good watch, with its approach that allows it to easily stand as its own movie. It's a refreshing start to a larger phase that, though will eventually become part of a multiverse, can be enjoyed without having to do their homework or brush up on the past films to understand what’s happening. And we all know how much we missed that when it comes to a Marvel film.

Fantastic Four: First Steps is running in a theatre near you.

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