Shadows on the Wall | The Fantastic 4: First Steps

The Fantastic 4: First Steps

dir Matt Shakman
prd Kevin Feige
scr Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan, Ian Springer
with Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Julia Garner, Ralph Ineson, Paul Walter Hauser, Natasha Lyonne, Sarah Niles, Mark Gatiss, Ada Scott, Matthew Wood
release US/UK 25.Jul.25
25/UK Marvel 1h55

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Although no first steps are involved in this movie, director Matt Shakman (WandaVision) adds visual panache to this latest reboot of the Marvel franchise by setting the action in an alternate 1964 New York City awash in fabulous Jetsons-like flourishes. Earthy humour runs through the dialog, allowing actors to add unusually engaging touches to the characters. So even with the usual mass-destruction elements, the film is thoroughly entertaining.

It's been four years since Reed (Pascal), his wife Sue (Kirby), her brother Johnny (Quinn) and best pal Ben (Moss-Bacharach) had their DNA rearranged by a cosmic storm, giving each of them specific superpowers that set them apart as saviours of humanity against all manner of villainy. Then Silver Surfer (Garner) arrives with a message from Galactus (Ineson), who has selected Earth for consumption. Scrambling to fix this, the foursome head into space to meet Galactus, who now demands possession of Sue's unborn child. Fleeing back home, they know that time is ticking for humanity.

Through all of this, our heroes interact like a normal family, with rivalries and niggling arguments alongside their unswerving love. At home, their abilities are mere conveniences, allowing Reed to stretch out to reach something, Sue creates a transparent forcefield that works like an ultrasound, Johnny provides flaming light in a blackout, and Ben's stony physique gets things done. They only truly display their powers in the big finale. Through all of this, the actors spark with personality without overstating it, which makes the characters thoughtful and intriguing.

Blending comedy and hesitancy into almost every interaction allows the audience into the story further than expected. So we grapple with each momentous decision that needs to be made, even if some of the details feel off. For example, our foursome all seem to have magical clothing that is unaffected by their powers. And the big sequence on Galactus' ship is in yet another ugly grey, digital environment. Thankfully, they get out of there quickly and return to the super-cool designs and costumes in this groovy take on Manhattan.

Because this is set on Earth 828, rather than our own dimension, it's unclear how these characters will integrate with the Avengers, as promised. But because this endlessly stylish quartet is so human and humane, we can't wait to see more of them, including cheeky infant Franklin (Scott). They may be facing world-ending calamities, but they do so with nervous courage and a determination to focus on each challenge despite many distractions. This makes them remarkably easy to identify with, which is unusual in this genre.

themes, language, violence 24.Jul.25

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