Movie Review - FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS

Are you a lapsed Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) viewer - or are you a newbie who is looking to find an entrée into this comic book Movie Universe?

If you are, then FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS is the film for you.

Oh…and if you are an AVID MCU watcher, this movie is for you, too.

Why? Because it is a well crafted Comic Book film that focuses on character over F/X, plot over action & heart over spectacle…and…it doesn’t require any homework!

Set on an Alternate Earth (entitled Earth-828), FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS is set in a retro-futuristic 1960’s style environment where the Fantastic Four are four years into being that Earth’s SuperHeroes/Protectors. Into this world comes The Silver Surfer who heralds the coming of Galactus who has marked their Earth for death.

And…that’s all you need to know. The rest takes care of itself, thanks to the Direction of Matt Shakman (TV’s WANDAVISION) and a screenplay by Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson and Jeff Kaplan.

Shakman, wisely, focuses this SuperHero, alternate-dimension, Alien attack, Sci-Fi/Fantasy motion picture on the people side of the house and the resulting grounding of humanity carries the day.

Aiding this effort - very largely - is the tremendous casting choices of Pedro Pascal (THE MANDALORIAN), Vanessa Kirby (rightfully Oscar Nominated for PIECES OF A WOMAN), Joseph Quinn (A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (TV’s THE BEAR) as The Fantastic Four. The chemistry of these 4 is through the roof and shows (rather than tells) the audience that they are a family and will stick together through thick and through thin.

And…through thick and through thin they must stick together as the Villain, Galactus (voiced by Ralph Ineson - THE WITCH) and his herald, The Silver Surfer, Julia Garner (TV’s OZARK) make the Fantastic Four make a decision that turns their Earth against them.

Natasha Lyonne (TV’s POKER FACE), Sarah Niles (TV’s TED LASSO), Mark Gattis (Mycroft Holmes in the Benedict Cumberbatch TV series SHERLOCK) and, especially Paul Walter Hauser (RICHARD JEWELL) are all on board for the fun and emotional depth that this out-of-this-world adventure brings us.

Director Shakman moves things along at a brisk enough pace, stopping for the humanity but not lingering on anything too long for one to really think about things…which also helps this film.

The retro-future look is almost another character and brings us a future that one thinks looks much like the one that Walt Disney thought the future would look like when he built Tomorrowland at Disneyland in the 1950’s.

Ultimately - in their next screen appearance - the Fantastic Four will unite with some (a lot) of the others from the MCU, but for one film (at least) it is just a stand alone film which is a refreshing breather from remembering all sorts of history and legacy.

So, just kick back and enjoy an adventure with characters that you will come to know and live over the course of this under 2 hour film.

Letter Grade: A

9 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank (ofMarquis)