First Steps is one of the best Fantastic Four movies ever made. The Valentine’s Day reveal last year got my hopes up and I am incredibly happy it surpassed my expectations. While there were questions regarding the casting and Vanessa Kirby’s quote in April, the movie is still great. Yes, Pedro Pascal did great as Reed Richards.
The Nuclear Fantastic Family
While there are numerous superhero groups across DC and Marvel, the group is most notable for being a family. The Fantastic Four shared the traumatizing incident in space that granted them their power. Reed and Sue are in a partnership in leading the team. Outside of their heroic exploit, Reed sticks to being the scientist while Sue goes on international talks and negotiations.
Backing the two Fantastic couples are Ben and Johnny. Ben is the rock-solid foundation of the group, while Johnny is the fun uncle. The chemistry between the four feels natural and convincing as a family throughout the movie.
One part that resonated with me was the backseat for Franklin, where Reed, Ben, and Johnny were struggling to adjust the seat and get a green light. It reminded me of a relative who is with his wife, son, and brother-in-law, who had to scramble to change my nephew’s diapers.
During the Galactus encounter and escape, everyone’s actions came naturally. No one berated Johnny when he attacked Galactus, nor did Reed bring up the limitations of his fire due to the oxygen tank. When everyone needed Reed’s strategy, they followed through even with a slight concern from Ben.
The dynamic of the Fantastic Four was closely showcased in the movie. Everyone pitched in with the best of their abilities during a crisis, which made their past exploits through the four years since their debut believable.
The 1960s Retro Aesthetic
The real hook for me with the Valentine’s Day poster was of Kevin Feige and Matt Shakman’s use of the 1960s retro-futuristic aesthetic. People who grew up watching Cartoon Network or Boomerang will recognize the theme from the classic 1960s Fantastic Four cartoon. That very cartoon is an actual media made in that universe.
Shakman said in an interview: “This is very much about the spirit of the Space Race,” he continues “It’s about JFK and optimism. It’s imagining these four going into space instead of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. This idea is that they are the most famous people in America, because they’re adventurers, explorers, astronauts, not because they’re superheroes. And they come back and they’re superheroes on top of it. But primarily, they’re astronauts, they’re family.”
It should be noted that Shakman directed WandaVision, the Scarlet Witch’s series that involved TV sitcoms across the decades.
The reason the retro-future theme hooked me is how far this Earth is disconnected from the current MCU. There were no superheroes or super groups before the Fantastic Four, at least not ones we were made aware of throughout the movie. It gave the F4 a fresh start ,where the audience does not need to rewatch more than 5 Marvel movies from the past decade just to understand what is going on. It was incredibly welcome for people feeling the MCU fatigue.
In addition, the retro-theme aesthetic is a great call back to the silver age comics. This era is the launch of the original Fantastic Four. As I had hoped, Shakman and Feige went for the Silver Age Fantastic Four and even had the same villainous encounters during their first year’s run.
Lacking in Ben and Johnny’s Screen Time
As much as I would want to give this movie a perfect score, there are parts I need to criticize it on. Namely, the lack of Ben and Johnny’s development. I love this universe’s treatment of Ben. While children were idolizing him, the adults around him treated him like any other guy from Yancy Street. There was even a supposed romance possibility with Ben and a teacher (possibly a priest, as I can remember.)
Unfortunately, we did not reach a conclusion on how the relationship between the two developed. I respect Shakman’s editing in cutting out parts for more on Ben’s development to keep the pacing, though it left me wanting to see more of Grimm’s life.
And yes, Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s acting was terrific. Ben is incredibly likable. He still has that desire to be normal and human again, but there is zero resentment shown during his interaction with Reed.
Joseph Quinn was also “Fantastic” as Johnny. While he still acted as the baby brother of the group, he displayed reasonable maturity and support. Additionally, the Johnny portrayed here is a scientist. This made sense when Pedro Pascal mentioned his in-laws’ interest in space. It gave him a good reason to understand The Silver Surfer’s language, which led to a crucial assist to the team during the final fight.
Though this was also my other criticism, there could have been more development between Shalla Bal and Johnny. Fans are familiar with Johnny’s alien love interest. It would have been interesting to see Johnny and Shalla Bal as a couple, with Norrin Radd (the original Silver Surfer) out of the picture.
While I would have loved to see more screen time between the two Fantastic Uncles, it was not a deal breaker at all.
Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby
Reed’s actor had been questioned by many here. Pedro Pascal has starred in numerous movies and series, namely The Mandalorian, The Last of Us, and Game of Thrones. Will the Chilean actor be able to do Reed Richards’ justice? Simply put, he did.
Pascal’s Reed captured Mister Fantastic’s identity as that awkward brain behind the group and a family man. The moment that sold me, he was Reed, was when Sue confronted him about considering that “sacrifice” to save the Earth. Pascal’s response was genius. He had thought about making the sacrifice, and is dodging Sue’s question with that dialogue.
It also made sense that he would say what Galactus “demanded” and not hide that fact or give a lie to the public. Reed has never been known to be a social man. He is likely to be stuck in a room, coming up with solutions to a crisis on his chalkboard, rather than keeping the general public calm.
Which is what Venassa Kirby’s Sue has covered in the movie. Kirby also did a great job being the mother of the group. It made sense that she would be the group’s ambassador when negotiating with other nations, especially the subterranean.
What solidified her role was when Sue faced the protestors face-to-face while holding baby Franklin. Everyone was concerned for their safety and would not mind giving up their heroes’ firstborn to an intergalactic menace. Yet, Sue was able to convince the crowd to give them a chance to save them once more.
The writing of both Reed and Sue is what elevated the movie. Pascal and Kirby did a great job portraying the Fantastic family.
The Galactus Threat
It should be noted that Galactus is not evil like other intergalactic bad guys in other Marvel movies. He is a cosmic force of nature who needs to satisfy his hunger. If his herald has chosen a plant for consumption, it would just be another meal out of the many.
Ralph Ineson brilliantly portrayed Galactus in First Steps. He speaks with the tone of a cosmic entity who has no time dealing with toppings for his plant pizza. There was no malice or evil intention when he confronted the Fantastic Four. There was just amusement that these four are putting a weak effort in stopping him from taking what he “wants.”
Shakman also did an incredible job portraying the massiveness of Galactus. Whenever he was on screen, you got that intimidating presence of a god who could just crush you with his thumbs. In theaters, you feel his every step in your bones thanks to the sound effects. This is finally the movie that portrays Galactus as intended, not some cosmic cloud engulfing the Earth.
A Must-Watch Fantastic Four First STeps
If you asked me two years ago if I had ever been interested on a new Fantastic Four movie, I would have laughed at the question. Now, I am happy to say that I enjoyed Feige’s take on Marvel’s super Family. It met my expectations of a good take on the Fantastic Four when I first saw the poster last year. There were some shortcomings, notably the limited screen time for Ben and Johnny, but it did not detract from the overall experience.
I am set to catch Avengers: Doomsday on theaters next.
Thanks for reaching the end of my review. Catch my other Tito Review on Superman 2025 next!
