It’s been a monumental summer for superhero films, with both leading superhero entertainment companies releasing highly anticipated blockbusters during a turbulent time for the genre. After DC wowed audiences with James Gunn’s soaring “Superman,” it’s now Marvel’s turn to reintroduce an old-school, fan-favorite group of superheroes: the Fantastic Four.
It took many years to get here after Fox’s troubled attempts to put them on screen — from the middling 2005 and 2007 duology to the disastrous 2015 reboot — and the studio’s buyout by Disney. Finally, Marvel gets to integrate its first family into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or MCU, with its 37th film, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” Giving the MCU a much-needed formula update in a visually astonishing alternate world, “First Steps” pays homage to the team’s original comics vision but ultimately leaves more to be desired.
After its multiverse mainly served as a plot tool for fan-servicing cameos, the MCU finally uses it to explore new characters and settings disconnected from the franchise’s pre-existing heroes. The world of “First Steps,” called Earth-828 (numbered as a tribute to Fantastic Four co-creator Jack Kirby), is a retro-futuristic world set in the 1960s and modeled after the original setting in the Fantastic Four comics. In this universe, the Fantastic Four, a group of astronauts who gained superhuman abilities after being exposed to cosmic rays, have been the world’s protectors for four years, helping Earth achieve world peace and becoming international celebrities.
Within the family’s headquarters at the Baxter Building in New York, Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal) and Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby) anxiously await their first child, while Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Mos-Bachrach) help the couple prepare for parenthood. However, when the planet-devouring Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his servant Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) choose Earth for annihilation, the Four must make a choice between saving their family and the rest of humanity.
After directing the MCU miniseries “WandaVision,” Matt Shakman brings his era-blending skills to the big screen in “First Steps.” Shakman hits the nail on the head in creating Earth-828, utilizing multiple cinematographic styles, varying aspect ratios and an era-matching score from Michael Giacchino that ranks among the best in the MCU. The alternate setting gives “First Steps” a unique sense of escapism that the MCU desperately needed, with each frame visually and audibly popping in a franchise heavily reliant on exaggerated CGI. When the film’s superhero action does require CGI, it is far more polished than the franchise’s recent laughable visuals, giving a comic-accurate representation of the team’s powers and making the terrifying Galactus a spectacle to behold.
The biggest strength of “First Steps” lies in its characterization, as the film prioritizes the humanity of its heroes over their abilities. The perfectly cast ensemble blend seamlessly into their roles, delivering outstanding chemistry as a team and nuanced complexity as individuals. Particular standouts are Pascal and Vanessa Kirby, in the lead roles of Richards and Sue Storm, respectively, who convey both the excitement and fear of welcoming a new child while balancing their duties as team leaders and world protectors. Rounding out the family are Quinn as Johnny Storm, Sue Storm’s aloof younger brother, and Moss-Bachrach as Grimm, the team’s rock-covered friend who struggles with his altered appearance.
While “First Steps” has plenty of charm, it does feel strangely abbreviated. Despite great performances from the cast, the surprisingly short runtime of 114 minutes results in the main characters getting insufficient screentime to achieve meaningful development. It also causes several subplots — such as the existence of an underground society and the Silver Surfer’s tragic backstory — to only be explored for a few minutes each. The amount of trailer content removed from the final cut raises eyebrows, but at least it leaves some hope for us to get an extended cut one day.
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” suffers from its rush to the finish line, but its stunning visuals and warm setting provide the MCU with originality and heart that the franchise has long been looking for. Instead of adapting to the modern world, it pays tribute to the original vision of the Fantastic Four: a loving team that cares for the world as much as they care for each other. While it may leave some wanting more, “First Steps” makes it certain that we’ll be seeing the family again very soon.
