Fantastic Four: First Steps is set to be one of the major turning points for Marvel aknd how it introduces the new phases to its old and new fan base. The film led by Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Joseph Quinn was expected to a time turning tale for the franchise. Instead we get a visual spectacle with little to offer in terms of its story.
Marvel has been a family all along, we have seen so many characters turn towards each other across time, space, dimension and universes but this is the first time, the studio has presented a family story. What we couldn’t get from Pepper Potts, Iron Man and Morgan Stark, we get a glimpse of it in Fantastic Four First Steps. However, it feels a little cheap, gimmicky and more than ever forced.
The film begins not as an origin story but as a recap for the tale we are already aware of. In this version of the Earth the Fantastic four are heores who have been loved and celebrated for their heroic tasks. It feels more of a live action for the Incredibles family than that of a MCU film. With more Marvel projects exploring the original concepts of the comics, Fantastic Four First Steps was a great decision for design but it doesn’t leave much screen time for the audience to bond with either of the characters.
Stars 3/5
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The first half of the film focuses of building the world around these well-known characters set in the 70s aesthetic. With the focus on the surrounding we barely get the chance to sit with the characters when they are learning something or coming to terms with the danger ahead of them. While the second half picks up it still makes the characters feel distant as if being watched through a screen or afar. That may be the concept as the story takes places on a distant world, but given that they are still part of the story ahead it isn’t easy to relate to them.
An entire sequence in the film is focused on the emotional turmoil of the characters having to face the reality of the danger, backlash of their fans and their entire world, but the severity of the situation is fairly missed. Reeds is one of the most smartest characters in the entirety of MCU, and yet we do not get a single scene of him working on anything, not even an equation. The portal introduced in the film is also taken for granted in terms of its size, or application for the planet or Galactus.
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The story is easy and practicable, which isn’t always a bad thing, but the size of Galactus’ body, and the sheer aura mismatch is laughable. With villains like Eternals celestial beings, Dormammu and more, a planet crushing villain the size of Galactus feels less threatening that Thanos. He maybe the biggest threat this Fantastic Four have ever come in contact with, but the film fails to make the audience feel the same. Galactus was expected to the such a big entity that its comprehensible. And Doom coming after it would have made Doom even bigger of a threat, but this just does the opposite.
Overall, the film may be a good watch in terms of the performances and set designs. It may also please the fans of the comics for the character choices and may be loved by new fans of MCU but it is not the best for the fans of the original or early MCU content.
It is just another add on to the list which sets the stage, talks about what to expect but doesn’t give us anything to feel.
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