Movie Number 31 of 2025
The Movie: The Fantastic Four: First Steps
The Cinema: Hoyts Victoria Gardens
Runtime: One hour 55 minutes
Stars: 4 - but I'm being generous.
When evaluating a film I think about a couple of things. Did I fall asleep? Did I enjoy it? Were some things better than others? Does it have a place in popular culture.
Thankfully, I didn't fall asleep during The Fantastic Four: First Steps, but I'm coming to this review with some reservations.
This is the fourth Fantastic Four film they've made in the last twenty years - and probably this is the best one. It's also there to set up the next found of Marvel films, with a new set of Avengers coming out next year (We've already seen Thunderballs (The New Avengers) and the promise of a new breed of superheroes.
I'm also told that this is not one for the purists. If you were into the comics as a kid, this one probably isn't for you.
Here's what I liked about the film.
First up, rather than a full origins story, this film jumps in with the Fantastic Four already being established with their superpowers after a botched flight into space. Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) is already married to Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby). Sue's brother Johnny (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) make up the four. They all have their special powers and they're still saving the world from all sorts of baddies.
When a silver creature from out of space Shalla-Bal (Julia Garner), also known as the Silver Surfer comes to tell the world that they are set for annihilation, the four go after her and find an even bigger baddie in her place. Oh, and Sue's pregnant too.
The script is, frankly, rather silly, but it's a Marvel movie - do you think you're going to get Shakespeare?
But, on the great side of this, the aesthetic of this film in extraordinary. Set in the 60s, the film shows a Jetsons-like. The costumes and sets are fantastic. A visual feast. Along with the CGI action is also fantastic. This is a film best seen on the big screen so you can get the full effect.
And sure Matt Shakman's direction keeps everything running along nicely, making the best of the so-so script, but it's the cast's dedication to the movie which needs to be congratulated.
Pedro Pascal is always a joy to watch. Vanessa Kirby is far too pretty for her own good. Joseph Quinn is a pretty good funny man to a well described Ebon Moss-Bachrach (which is a pity because he's hot) . And Julia Warner is rather alluring in her silver suit.
In all, this is a Marvel Movie. It's certainly not as good as some, not as bad as others. For me, the aesthetics won me over. This movie is a visual feast, even if the script is a bit thin.
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