You know I had to Google the title.
Does it have a ‘the’? Is it the number ‘4’ or the word? I found it’s yes to both, and I’m glad I checked—this film deserves that kind of respect. And in that same sort of sense, it deserves a little background as to how it ended up here, and how some of the scenes feel like a certain, kind-of franchise which sets our First Family on a grand adventure.
Movies have different journeys and momentums and schedules are a little bit mercurial, and so when the Fantastic Four opportunity came up, it was just too hard to pass up”
Matt Shakman, Director (The Fantastic Four: First Steps)
Considered the ‘first family’ as they fostered the Silver Age of Marvel Comics, the Fantastic Four were a full-blown family unit instead of some superhero group. They squabbled. Would hate each other and be petty. And threw aside secret identities in lieu of celebrity. And they would do this as a family doing fantastic things together.
“Wait. Say that again…”
The first of many creations from the dynamic pairing of Jack Kirby and Stan Lee; The Fantastic Four would lead Spider-Man, Hulk, Thor and more into a period of comic book success that would later continue in the movies. Like the unreleased Constatin film directed by Roger Corman. Or the successful 2005 and 2007 films because we were starving for anything potentially good from comic book movies. And then the horrible box office failure of 2015 which was Fan4Stic.
It’s no surprise then that Shakman’s 2025 film comes with a little bit more hope that maybe they’ll get it right this time. And when the franchise I spoke of that he stepped away from is Star Trek? Well, you get a space-faring adventure that sees an established Fantastic Four in a retro-futuristic alternate Earth, going toe-to-toe with a big purple dude named Galactus.
They’re very similar in some ways: they both were launched in the ’60s at the same time, they’re both about optimism and looking to the stars and technology can solve everything and they’re about family too — the family you have, the family you make”
Matt Shakman on his work with WandaVision and Fantastic Four
This was probably the best way to position the Fantastic Four. Setting them in their roots of establishment as a successful group of superheroes who work like a family. Shakman expertly recreates their dynamic with a watchful eye. Pedro Pascal plays the hyperintelligent Reed Richards brilliantly. His mega mind stretching beyond societal norms because they don’t affect the next thing he needs to fix. Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Richards, nee Storm, is the heart of the group. A role often lent to the character. She facilitates and guides the other members, which then sees her wrapping that around the world. And then the Fun Uncles, or FUNCles as I call them, are wonderfully acted out by Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm.
While the 05 pairing was great, with Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis handing out endless pranks and frustration to no end, these two play closer to brothers. Sure, they knock each other down a peg as brothers do. But also ensure to lift each other up when they need it. I appreciated it a lot. Especially as the Thing in this world is held with a higher regard than the one we’re used to.
And I love that for the softest rock in the world.
This fantastic unit is supported further by a return to form in more practical effects. With our favorite little helper, H.E.R.B.I.E, leading the way (and potentially towards your heart too). They all feel a bit more grounded, thanks to a lot more use of real objects overlapping with the digital. And this then hands back to improving how good the digital assets look. Yes, Julia Garner delivers as the Silver Surfer. But the effects department did a superb job of really capturing the metal look. 07’s Silver Surfer was great for the time. But this looks like some kind of silver person made of a dense metal. And it absolutely rules. As much as the immensity of Ralph Ineson’s Galactus who…ended up serving me enough purple for me to be happy with him, instead of the 07….cloud. A quick aside though for “what doesn’t rule” is a weird CGI baby, but you can make up your own thoughts around that.
This established story rooted in a playful origin-non-origin is maybe the most progress we’ve had in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since…End Game. Due to circumstance, and the need for consumer engagement flooding the market, I haven’t felt like we’ve gone any kind of way since. Yes, we’ve met a lot of new faces. But for what? Who is the big bad? Why are they the big bad? And while the Four setup the next two Avengers films, is it too little, too late? Or is this an opportunity to group things back together onto a more straightforward path. I’m not sure, but when Shakman says he loved the optimism of the Fantastic Four and shows it in his film, then I have to give him the benefit of the doubt and believe him.
Because if the MCU is doomed, then maybe that’s the best thing for it.
(that’s a cheeky pun if I ever did see one)
Seeing the Fantastic Four go on a whole-ahh adventure was wonderful. Especially seeing as it took them to space. You know. Where they got their powers to be fantastic from. Mix this in with a stunning time period for visuals, Michael Giacchino on the tunes, and Thing on clobberin' time, then it's a riotous outing for the First Family.
And maybe a return for the MCU after all this time.
