126. Fantastic Four: First Steps

 I was worried about this film.

Much like Superman, we've had many a Fantastic Four reboot and to be honest I'm not sure why we needed them. The family dont seem to fit anywhere within the MCU that had been built, they were stand alone, or at least for the time being.

But this time, they have a purpose. They are the apparent key to rebooting the MCU (which I think is completely pointless considering we've worked so hard to get where we are. Just because they havent found success since Endgame doesnt mean we need to start over, we just need a new big story, not a new Iron Man), and they play a much larger role within the shared universes.

I was dubious about the old fashioned yet futuristic theme going on, as well as baby Franklin. While it seemed like a new direction to go with the family, it also felt like something wildly out of Marvel's comfort zone. However, it worked. Not to mention the fact that this seems to be Marvel's successful attempt at both a connected and stand alone film. You dont need to know any Marvel lore to enjoy this film. There are no connected MCU cameos until the end credit scene, you can finally just enjoy this movie for what it is, a superhero film. There's no other superheroes coming forward on their version of Earth for a team up, it seems like its the FF saving the world, which is refreshing, although I'm sure their Earth does have other supes.

FF: First Steps follows the first family as they are an already established superhero team. We get to see flashbacks to tell their backstory, but then most of us already know. We focus on the years on from this, the family behind the heroics, especially when they are surprised to find that Sue Storm is pregnant.

A threat in the form of Galactus then threatens this new family dynamic. He is going to devour the planet unless the four can stop them, and they are given the chance to, peacefully, but in the interest of spoilers I wont go into that right now. They of course refuse which signs the planets death warrant, and stupidly Reed then tells the public what went down which doesn't exactly paint them in a good light. But Sue, the born leader, manages to smooth it over, and the world are on side again, which seems incredibly understanding of them and they accepted her without a fight.

It is then down to the four plus help from the planet in order to stop Galactus, which seems doomed to fail but of course like any hero movie it turns out alright in the end. There is a tragic death which is soon resolved, Mr Fantastic suffers the fate of many a Mr Fantastic stretch toy from our youths, and all hope i lost until it isnt. It was good, and strangely we didn't focus on the villain much at all, they were just supporting characters so that we could explore the family and their powers which was nice. Galactus didn't get a big back story like Thanos, he wasn't greedy for screen time, he was an introductory and then an end sequence boss just like villains should be. That's what Brave New World tried to be, and failed.

However, I strongly disagree with the whole Reed Richards needs to be the leader of the new MCU. This guy does not have the stuff to lead. He's a panicker, he's not a people person, he's a numbers person, and he fumbles. He can lead his own team through science, but it relies heavily on the team itself all knowing him enough to inject themselves into the roles assigned and doing what they do. He doesn't lead, he just spouts the outcome and everyone else fills in the gaps. Sue on the other hand, born leader. I think she needs to step up and lead past her husband. She has what it takes to lead on the new Avengers with Reed by her side for the stats. Hopefully they'll have it as the power couple in charge if they truly want the FF leading the way going forward and not just Reed as I honestly think this version is not a charge taker which is a good thing. In MoM we saw Reed from another universe among the members of the Illuminati, that was fine, he had what it took to be a leader, this version has what it takes to provide, not lead. He can provide his wife with what she needs to make the choices he cant. I think Pedro did an excellent job with his version, he made the man vulnerable.

While we are on it, hats off to Vanessa Kirby as she gave her ALL during this movie. I've enjoyed everything I've seen her in and I want her hair and eyelashes, but aside from the slightly patchy American accent, she was fire (which is funny as that's Johnny). I liked her range, she very much shows her emotions through her body language as well as her face which is good for an actor. I want more of her in the MCU, she was born for this.

I am still unsure of Joseph Quinn as Johnny. He was very very good dont get me wrong and I enjoyed his take. It is just his soul seems so much older than anything he plays. Take Eddie in Stranger Things, it fit his character, but you look at him and you're like no way you're a teenager, them eyes have seen too much. It's the same here, no way you're an arrogant womaniser, you've seen so much trauma your façade is cracking. It brings depth to the characters for sure, but it's accidental as its just the man. He also doesn't seem to suit any hair colour or style. He's an anomaly and I really like that, I just struggle to see his characters, no matter how much he tries and is convincing, I see him despite the skills.

Ebon as Ben was a nice choice. He made sense, he brought a good sensitive and funny side to the character which conflicts. The Thing which is meant to be all scary and violent, but in reality is the softest, kindest man. That's what made his powers so tragic, that was the price for herodom. But he lives with it, and you can tell he hates what he has become, and yet he goes on to potentially find love anyway. I want a happy ending for Ben, he is and has always been the only one to suffer, and despite him being a sort of background character here, Ebon made him stand out with what was only implied during his scenes. The essence of Ben's character was the true one here.

A lot of reviews I've read online have compared this to the other superhero movie dominating the Box Office right now, Superman. Some have said Fantastic Four: First Steps is better, some are in the Superman camp. To be entirely honest with you, I think it is purely down to which side of the camp your loyalties truly lie. Of course, like me, you can like both, but ultimately there will always be a bias for your favourite superheroes. The first superhero I ever clapped eyes on was Batman. That was in a crossover with Scooby Doo when I was a wee lass and I have loved the hero ever since. But in terms of the proper superhero movies, the first I remember was Fantastic Four with Chris Evans, then of course Iron Man. I grew up with the MCU building into something. Sure Christopher Reeves' Superman was mixed in there just like various Batman movies, but I grew to love the gritty adventures that appealed to me. Ghost Rider, Blade, FF, for some reason I fell into the Marvel camp as it was building towards something, they were showing me heroes I never knew, and I already knew Batman and I never really cared for Superman.

In my mind DC were rehashing the same old heroes. Batman, Superman, and Wonder woman were all you'd see, they were the flagships and I was tired of that. Marvel provided me with the new, and with that in mind I am in the frame that FF was better than Superman. They were very nearly equally matched, but FF just pulled out slightly with the ability to stand on its own to feet. It didn't need cameos from other heroes and stars, it was its own movie and I liked that so much more. It was both familiar and different, after all this time Marvel is finally heading in the right direction again. It wasn't overly emotional like Thunderbolts* and it wasn't as dark, it also wasnt cheesy like Captain Marvel. This was balanced. 

I want a Herbie, that is all.

So I'm giving Fantastic Four: First Steps an 8/10. It was refreshing, balance, and it left a good feeling with me. This was the beginning of the future for Marvel. I left the 4DX (slight regret) screening bruised, battered, and wanting to see more. Especially when the next big bad featured in the end credit scene of which there are 2 btw. I'm interested to see where this goes, I just hope it wont be disappointing as even Marvel admits nothing will ever live up to Endgame and there wasn't a plan.

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