The MCU finally brings in Marvel’s first family and it’s definitely the breath of newborn fresh air that we have been yearning for.
Neo 60’s theme comic book universe? Oh yeah, Matt Shakman is your man. I was let down with the initial news of Jon Watts departing from the project years ago, but fresh off of WandaVision they tell me that Matt freaking Shakman is taking the helm? Yeah, you had me at WandaVision. I am biased as my love for WV is thoroughly layered, but after seeing this I now feel that objectively he was right for this.
Now that we’re here, introducing the team this way was definitely the smart decision. Having to shoe horn them into the MCU proper without having no mention of them at all would have been a disaster all around. Having them in their own universe gave Shakman the unique situation of creative freedom that his predecessors had much less of than him. A lot of the other films have to fit in and yet stick out thematically and aesthetically. First Steps crumples up that logic and tosses it in the bin. The look, the feel, the people! It comes together so well. Also, as a comic book fan, seeing the Fantastic Four be done so well on the big screen is euphoric and relaxing. Long overdue is the overstatement of this and the next century.
One thing the MCU knows how to do is cast. They did great here. I did say in the beginning that I wish lesser known and possibly cheaper actors would have been better for the longevity of this film franchise in particular, however these casting choices were made when a majority of fans were not onboard with everything the MCU was doing. So at the time I felt like sighing more known actors was a real safe move, and I still feel that way today. Still, it doesn’t mean that this cast doesn’t absolutely kill it in this movie.
Pedro Pascal blew me away with how accurate his Reed Richards was. Mr. Fantastic is a superhero burdened with his intellect and at times loses his humanity due to knowing how everything works and that faith is not a probable way of living. So comic book accurate. A flaw that his wife calls him out on, and yet he finds his humanity in his inhumanity when his child is thrusted into his life, his love for science and probability clashes with his paternal instincts, and that struggle of beliefs and damn near robotic approach to being a father is morphed within him, realizing he doesn’t know everything. Pascal is just a good character actor who understands heavily flawed and determined characters. That’s honestly what most dads are. Vanessa Kirby tackles Sue Richards (née Storm) and is the quintessential heart of the team, the true leader honestly. To me, her true power is her ability to know how to talk to people, she obviously can handle her brother, knows what to say to her husband who is easily the smartest man in the multiverse, and is able to coral the whole world into doing their part to save the day. Not to mention she is up there with the best on screen moms.
Ebon Moss-Bachrach & Joseph Quinn as the Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm respectively, are great as the Thing and Human Torch. I was a little turned off to the fact that they didn’t make The Things voice all gravely, but Ebons performance comes through so much better. The Human Torch is arguably given so much more to do than in any previous incarnation and he’s given a lot to do. When the cast were first introduced to the public, they were deemed to have no chemistry in interviews when in actuality they were filming, had to fly to comic con with no sleep and were forced to partake in interviews. I want to see those same people make those same assumptions here, this cast has a fantastic chemistry and you can’t tell me they’re not a family.
Julia Garner as Silver Surfer and Ralph Ineson as Galactus are perfect. Garner brings that hard emotion in a stoic shell. For Ineson, I’m definitely going to be hearing his voice as Galactus in my head when I read him in comics now. That’s Kevin Conroy as Batman level and I don’t use that comparison like… at all. They got Galactus, who could easily come off as such a silly looking space villain, to look so deeply menacing and intimidating. Lastly, credit where credit is due, Paul Walter Hauser as Mole Man is a gem, give me a Marvel Presents the Mole Man any day. He steals all the scenes he’s in.
I have to say that the story is really good. There’s like 17 people credited for the screenplay or whatever, but hey that’s the Marvel Method. Also I see people online taking issue to how quickly people turn on the heroes and then are swayed back. I had that problem in James Gunns Superman, and I have the same retort… people were swayed easily both ways, so in this universes, people are easily swayable… idk what else you want in a movie that has people who stretch so much. Regardless the screenplay was great. I didn’t love the pacing towards the end of the 1st act, but overall as an over encompassing story that was tased with creating a love letter the FF fans and making a good movie, I feel like this story was a home run.
I will go on the bender and claim that this is the best cgi in a Marvel Movie since I could see Thanos’ chin hairs. The only time it looked awful was when two specific characters were together, and honestly it wasn’t even that bad, it’s just that the rest of the movie looked so good that it just pales in comparison, but other than those few scenes, I thought this movie was really polished. Cgi is over hated and under understood that I don’t care to give my opinions on it much, but I thought this movie looked stellar. Johnny looked soooo good while his flames were on, Sue’s powers looked so powerful, The Thing looked as great as he could get honestly, and I personally thought Mr. Fantastics powers were portrayed very well, but the least good looking of the four. Also side note, I feel liked he was especially nerfed, he definitely did not seem like he could stretch as much as prior versions of himself (I.e. the 2005/2007 version and even the version you see in Dr. Strange 2). Aesthetically speaking as well, this movie is a wow inducing machine. It has one of the best chase scenes in superhero cinematic history and on top of the well done cgi the set design is clearly Academy Award worthy. And what goes well with great visuals? The best sound you can get by the enigmatic Michael Giacchino. This score alone will pay his bills and his grandkids bills. Like c’mon, if you didn’t leave the theatre screaming “FAAAAAANTASTIC FOOOOOURRRR” at least 7 times than I’m convinced you’re a facist.
This movie is great, it feels so good to finally get this movie after not believing in its existence for like 6 years. There are some story beats I would have changed and I’m still yearning for the time where post credits scenes meant something (not exclusive to this movie) but man did I enjoy the heck out of this movie. I do think that this cast elevated whatever was on paper, this screenplay could have been terrible and this cast still would have carried. In a vacuum this movie is powerful and emotional. As part of a bigger picture in a big moving machine, it’s a quintessential piece that begs to be experienced again and again. Regardless, this movie is well worth your time.
🌟🌟🌟🌟1/2
Add comment
Comments