Fantastic Four: First Steps shows that Marvel remembers what makes a hero.

4 out of 5

In 2008, the MCU began with Iron Man, launching Phase One and introducing villains like Obadiah Stane, Abomination, Whiplash, and Red Skull. These villains came and went, leading up to the Avengers uniting to confront Loki's ambition, powered by the Tesseract. As the origin stories and predictable villains grew tiresome, Marvel escalated the stakes with the formidable Ultron. These villains allowed the heroes to earn their victories and pride repeatedly. After Thanos, the multiverse shattered, increasing the stakes significantly. The MCU owes as much to its villains as to its heroes; without them, what would the Avengers be avenging? With The Fantastic Four: First Steps, they've introduced Galactus, a marketing sensation that required no hype. Perhaps that's all the lure they ever needed.

As with anyone else, third time's the charm for Marvel (and yes, I prefer to pretend the 2015 Fantastic Four never existed). Don't misunderstand me; the 2005 film and its 2007 sequel weren't failures. In fact, they've aged surprisingly well, largely due to the cast and their natural chemistry. However, when retelling a story that has been told not once, not twice, but three times, the challenge is to stay ahead of the audience. The Fantastic Four: First Steps starts anew, disregarding all previous versions and beginning fresh. There's no time spent on a typical origin story. Instead, a clever workaround is provided through a Ted Gilbert show that resembles a documentary flashback, with the host (Mark Gatiss) explaining who they are and how they became Fantastic. The story commences not with a bang, but with Sue Storm's long-anticipated and unexpected pregnancy, a quiet, human moment that grounds the narrative. In the flashback, Dr. Doom is notably absent, a strategic move by Marvel to build more momentum for Avengers: Doomsday. However, it doesn't completely avoid the subject, with references to Latveria and a can't-miss mid-credits scene.

With a runtime just five minutes shy of 120, Marvel efficiently packs in quite a lot. There are hints of foreshadowing throughout, with nods to the Mole Man and a seemingly minor experiment by Reed that later lead to impressive moments of awe and excitement. As promised by Pedro Pascal and director Matt Shakman, the film highlights Reed's superpowers, crediting his intellect rather than his elasticity. When Marvel first began, we cheered as Tony Stark escaped a terrorist camp by crafting a suit in a cave. Yet, the thrill came from Tony's genius, not his iron suit. Similarly, Matt Shakman avoids easy solutions. There's no shortcut using Franklin Richards’ cosmic powers; no deus ex machina. In every challenge, primarily Reed, and occasionally Johnny, Sue, and Ben, come up with credible solutions. Yes, they're superheroes, but they're also humans who think critically when faced with problems. This aspect, more than anything, is what makes this retelling truly fantastic.

Beyond the screenplay, the key to the film's success lies in the meticulously crafted visual world created by the filmmakers. Matt Shakman, who showcased his talent with the retro vibe of Wandavision, achieves a perfect blend of the retro and futuristic elements here. The main four characters have a robot named H.E.R.B.I.E., yet the news media still uses 60s-style cameras. Times Square is adorned with massive TV-like screens, and the Excelsior rocket allows for faster-than-light travel. The Baxter Building has been renovated and looks aesthetically stunning. If not for this retro aesthetic , this woud have been a 3 star review but the inventio, continuity and tone of the aesthetic makes this film even more enjoyable.

If narrative structure, visual appeal, and performances are the three pillars of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the fourth pillar supporting it is messaging. The theme of family is a recurring message throughout. Sue (Vanessa Kirby) delivers a compelling monologue to persuade those around her that nothing can be accomplished without fighting “As a Family.” Uncles Ben and Johnny do everything in their power to protect little baby Franklin, even though he is unwittingly the most powerful among them. After the four narrowly escape Galactus and Shalla-Bal (The Silver Surfer, or Herald as she is referred to here) for the first time, Sue goes into labour. All of Shalla-Bal's actions (portrayed brilliantly by Julia Garner) are driven by her love for her family. By the film's conclusion, it is demonstrated that a mother's love for her child can unlock the greatest superpower of all.

Ever since Avengers: Endgame, Marvel has tried to make every single film fantastic or fan service. For the first time in a long while, The Fantastic Four: First Steps focuses on brain over brawn, emotion over exposition, and storytelling over spectacle, instead of endless cameos and old-film references. As we pin our hopes on Marvel to chart a stronger future, we walk out of theatres not just with spectacle, but with forever memories of what made these heroes truly fantastic.