Jeri Jacquin
Coming to theatres from director Matt Shakman and Marvel Studios based on the Stan Lee and Jack Kirby comic is the FANTASTIC 4: First Steps.
It has been a few years since Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), and Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) went into space and came back with superpowers. Now Sue is expecting a child and Reed worries what that means as far as having powers. That celebration comes to a halt when a Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) arrives on Earth and announces its pending destruction by a being called Galactus (Ralph Ineson).
Immediately, the Fantastic 4 suit up and fly through space to meet Galactus face to face but instead hear the conditions for leaving Earth alone. Reed makes it clear that Galactus will not get what he wants as the team races back to their own planet. The press meet the returning ship and learn what Galactus wants. Reed immediately begins to search for mathematical answers while Johnny takes it upon himself to try and understand the language of the Silver Surfer.
Coming up with a plan, their only option is to give Galactus what he wants but Reed, Sue, Ben and Johnny aren’t going to exactly make it easy for a being trying to ruin their world. Trusting the Fantastic 4 to save them, the world believes in their heroes!
Pascal as Richards, aka Mr. Fantastic, is a man that thinks everything through mathematically and invents what he needs to not only take care of Sue but get his house in order. Pascal play his character with a stern seriousness but with one goal – to save his family. Watching Pascal hold a baby is probably going to cause women to lose their minds too but that’s a bonus.
Kirby as Storm, aka Invisible Woman, is a woman surrounded by men and making it clear that she is just as vital as they are. Once they hear the demand of Galactus, Kirby’s Storm makes it clear that no alien is going to destroy what they’ve worked so hard for, family and protecting the planet. She gives her character strength and determination to use her superpowers for both.
Moss-Bachrach as Grimm, aka The Thing, is the one most changed in appearance by their first trip into space. His appearance is difficult for him to deal with, especially when someone has caught his eye. Grimm is so kind and sensitive but don’t take that for granted because when the world needs his strength, he handles whatever is in the way. Moss-Bachrach plays the character of Ritchie on the hit Hulu series The Bear so I was thrilled to learn he took on the role of Grimm.
Quinn as Storm, aka Human Torch, gets the chance to once again play a misunderstood character but he does it so well. Proving he is more than Storm’s brother and Richards relative, Quinn gives his character the behavior of a lover boy but there truly is more to him. The upcoming season of the Netflix hit Stranger Things proves that he is an actor that can handle such diverse roles and makes them his own.
Garner as the Silver Surfer is the one who announces the destruction of Earth. The agent of destruction for Galactus, Garner gets the chance to play a character that has her own story to tell. Ineson as Galactus lends his voice to give the right amount of alien destructor
Other cast include Sarah Niles as Lynne Nichols, Mark Gatiss as Ted Gilbert, and Natasha Lyonne as Rachel. Shout out to Paul Walter Hauser as Harvey Elder aka Mole Man for his humor and presence, I just loved it so much.
Marvel Studios has released sixteen films since 2008 in what is known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvel is built on a library of over eight thousand characters featured in a variety of media content for over seventy years. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.marvel.com.
THE FANTASTIC 4: First Steps is going to make Marvel fans so thrilled. The film itself is done with a comic book feel from the suits of the four and the couture of the population. That also includes the futuristic look of the spaceships and the alien nature of Galactus. I love the look of the Richards home as it reminded me of the 60s shows I watched when I was younger. The mash of all of this is, well, fantastic.
From
the first scene to the last, there is action and intensity even if there are a
few clunky moments. The MCU needed this film and giving it the sci-fi feel
along with a remarkable cast means that these superheroes in blue and white are
pretty darn good all around. The literal ‘first steps’ have been taken and we
all know where they lead – to AVENGERS: Doomsday and that is going to be a
blockbuster!
In the end – they will save the world as a family!
