 |
| Images courtesy of Marvel/Disney |
The unthinkable has happened. After years of miscalculated drudgery and failures, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is officially back in more than capable hands under the creative direction of WandaVision's Matt Shakman.
Fantastic Four: First Steps is the first film since Avengers:Endgame that actually brings us back to the quality of Marvel's earlier phases. This is an introduction tale that doesn't put us through another repetitious backstory or origin tale. Instead, it places us right in the center of a cosmic calamity at the otherworldly hands of Galactus, the Devourer of Worlds. From tightly wound action to stunning effects work, this Fantastic Four puts the comic book back in comic book movie with some of the best-looking visuals to ever grace a Marvel flick.
First Steps and director Shakman take hard turns away from the typical MCU movie to give us a science fiction film wrapped up in a fleshed out story about family that's lead by the amazing Vanessa Kirby. She is the core of this film and carries it with the finest acting of her career. Typically, she's not been given much time to actually act or emote. Here, she takes center stage, stealing most of the spotlight from a woefully miscast Pedro Pascal, a hilarious and cocky Joseph Quinn, and the dramatic wit of Ebon Moss-Bachrach. The team is finally assembled for what is a positive step in the right direction for Marvel as a whole.
Shakman and crew heavily lean into the cosmic parts of the universe, paying homage to Christopher Nolan's Interstellar throughout. The space scenes are immaculate, pulling many notes from other far greater sci-fi works. Honestly, this feels like the first time the execs at Disney have been hands off in a while. Fantastic Four: First Steps shows that they've been listening to the fanbase and allowed actual creatives to do their job without too many cooks in the kitchen.
The on-screen reinvention of the Silver Surfer works like a charm. Sure, they'll be those internet trolls screaming that the movie is woke because the character is female here. But, it's part of the Marvel chronology tracing back to 1968. They visual elements attached to the character are definitely a leg up on the previous on-screen version.
You'd be hard pressed to find a more quality Marvel movie in the last five years. Fantastic Four offers a unique spin on their story along with a slick aesthetic vibe that's amplified by some practical effects and a properly executed, comic book accurate version of Galactus. If you were impressed with DC's relaunch of Superman, you'll be ecstatic at Marvel/Disney's reintroduction of this family with superpowers.
The only thing that's mildly disappointing is a third act that's once again centered on the destruction of a massive city. That's the only complaint from this guy. I'd be amiss by not mentioning the phenomenal job they did on the graphics for Ben Grimm/The Thing this time around. If you're a fan, this one is for you.
-CG