The Fantastic Four: First Steps- A Retro Superhero Delight
Why First Steps stood out in a crowded Marvel lineup
Courtesy of Marvel Studios
We’ve all heard it, and many of us have felt it, the dreaded “superhero fatigue.” I will admit that I am not the hugest comic book fan, but I do enjoy a good superhero movie. After Avenger’s End Game and the dismembering of the Justice League Snyder DC Universe, I’ve felt myself become a bit detached from comic book movie reviews.
I have still found enjoyment in quite a few such as Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Wakanda Forever, and I am loving the Robert Patterson Batman world. Deadpool even proved to be a great time. Still, I find myself no longer running to the theaters for a superhero flick unless it’s something that really tickles my fancy.
The Fantastic Four was never a hero group that stood out to me. I can’t tell you anything about the older films or the cartoon, and the most that I knew about them before the recent movie is that one dude lights up like a fireball, another dude is a huge rock, there's a guy with incredibly stretchy arms, and there's a lady that I can’t remember what she does.
Well, The Fantastic Four: First Steps laid out the backgrounds very well and I actually quite enjoyed their story. In fact, Invisible Woman just might be one of my favorite hero gals now; is she related to Scarlet Witch or Captain Marvel? Their vibes were pretty similar to me. Reeds Richards always seemed to be the most important of the quartet, but I gotta give it to Sue after watching the movie; to me, she carried the team.
Courtesy of Marvel Studios
How Was the Movie?
This movie was a good solid watch. I’ll definitely check it out again, likely when it comes home to streaming. This has been one of my favorite more recent Marvel movies. It stayed pretty loyal to traditional hero movies (hence the retro look), but it had its own modern flair to it at the same time.
A very nice balance of action and drama, and I even caught myself holding back some emotions at times.
Best Parts About the Movie?
Aesthetics:
I’m a sucker for retro and old timey vibes so this movie was absolutely BEAUTIFUL to me. It felt like Fallout (shout out to all of my gamers and Amazon show lovers) with the perfect balance of fun, action, and darkness.
Women Characters:
The women were killing it in this movie. I already mentioned that Sue was the MVP of the team but I also have to give it to Silver Surfer. Sis was gliding the waves of every atmosphere and had fire boy (Johnny/Human Torch) absolutely obsessed.
Pedro Pascal:
Yes, we’ve been seeing him everywhere and you know what- he keeps doing a damn good job. I have watched Pedro in at least 4 different films/shows this year and he proved to be a different person each time. As Dakota Johnson explained in The Materialist, he’s just perfect.
Courtesy of Marvel Studios
Is This Movie for You?
If you are a Marvel fan and/or a fan of Fantastic Four then you are already sold.
I will say this movie is for those who like action stories with a strong focus on family and teamwork. It also has a classic super hero feel to it, and gave me The Jetsons vibes; so if you like retro aesthetics than you will enjoy the entire environment and “feel” of the movie.
This is a good flick to see with the fam, with not too much overwhelming violence. If all of this sounds good for you, then you’re in for a good time and you probably want to check this out on the big screen while its still in theaters. Otherwise, this will be nice to watch at home as well where you can stretch out more comfortably.
And remember, this is Marvel so don’t miss the after credit scenes.