REVIEW: THE FANTASTIC FOUR - FIRST STEPS

4/5

Surfin' M.C.U.

114 Mins. Starring: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Julia Garner, Sarah Niles, Mark Gatiss, Natasha Lyonne, Paul Walter Hauser & Ralph Ineson. Screenplay: Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan & Ian Springer. Director: Matt Shakman. In: Theatres.

The steps 'The Fantastic Four' have taken to get to the M.C.U. have been clunkier than Ben Grimm's The Thing walking around at night in the Baxter Building. The early 2000s movies starring Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Michael Chiklis and Chris (B.C. 'Before Cap') Evans (how about that classic cameo last year?) were a part of 20th Century Fox's big-three with Tobey Maguire's 'Spider-Man' and the 'X-Men'. A decade and change later, the chronicles continued with Josh Trank trying to make an ultimate Fantastic Four ('Fant4stic') with Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan (B.K. 'Before Killmonger'). Much maligned (and unfairly so) and meme-d (that's hilarious, to be fair). And then, before 'The First Steps' of 'The Fantastic Four' now, we even had a dream cast of John Krasinski playing Mr. Fantastic in 'Doctor Strange and the Multiverse Of Madness' (this is the first time I've done this, but it's OK to reveal now...right?). All before he was turned to spaghetti.

A line, even more infamous than Teller's, told us that maybe this wasn't the smartest man in the world. But still, we wanted to see 'The Office' star make this superhero day job his 9 to 5. Especially when Elizabeth Olsen's Wanda asked him if he had a wife...and we all thought that meant his real-life on and 'A Quiet Place' co-star Emily Blunt was going to play Sue Storm. Well, that turned out to be transparent and more than a stretch. Ah, well, maybe in another multiverse. Instead, we have Pedro Pascal, the biggest blockbuster in the business ('The Mandalorian', 'The Last Of Us', 'Game Of Thrones', 'Wonder Woman 1984', 'Kingsman-The Golden Circle', 'Gladiator II') proving he has the smarts and heart to play the tortured genius of Reed Richards. Meanwhile, 'The Crown' of Sue Storm goes to 'Mission: Impossible' and 'Hobbs & Shaw' franchise face Vanessa Kirby ('Pieces Of A Woman'). Sure, you may wonder what could have been with the Krasinski and Blunt family, but Pascal and Kirby have so much chemistry, people think they're a couple off-screen. Although, Vanessa is just comforting Pedro's social anxiety, no matter what the internet thinks.

The other half of the family belongs on the television, lifted from the streams of two of the most successful shows on Netflix and Disney Plus, respectively. Joseph Quinn ('A Quiet Place: Day One') stole the show so much on the last season of 'Stranger Things', he's now rocking the blazing Johnny Storm flames. Checking the cockiness of Chris Evans' early, classic career, before he became the do good Captain, Quinn's more grounded poster boy of the family soars. Fame on. But it's 'The Bear's' favourite cousin, Ebon Moss-Bacharach (who also played with 'The Punisher'), who you really see through. Right to the core of this brick wall who still expresses emotion through those eyes that have hurt us ever since he played Keanu Reeves' brother in 'The Lake House', younger and much different, looking a little tougher these days. He may not say his famous line, but he does 'Anchorman's, "CANNONBALL!". And when Ebon dips a stone finger into H.E.R.B.I.E.'s (the cutest and best thing since Pedro Pascal's last co-star on a Disney property) cooked-up concoction, we're right back in a Chicago restaurant with zip. Concrete clap. Yet, it's the first steps of Marvel's first family that really steals the show.

Earth-828, and its nice nod, is a retro-futuristic universe we can all get along with. As Matt Shakman's ('WandaVision') 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' (with its own four writers Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer) is a love comic to Jack Kirby, Alex Ross and the 60s. All the way down to the 'Catch Me If You Can' like Marvel title card. Classic magazine covers, stylish suits, flying cars and even a Baxter Building that has everyone here in Yokohama thinking they stole the deeds off the Landmark Tower. Even the exposition is wrapped up in a nice syndicated segment from Mark Gatiss ('Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning'), because like 'Guardians Of The Galaxy's very own James Gunn said, "I don’t need to see pearls in a back alley when Batman’s parents are killed. I don’t need to see the radioactive spider biting Spider-Man. And I don’t need to see baby Kal coming from Krypton in a little baby rocket." Or for that matter, these four going into space and coming back more cosmic than a Jamiroquai song. 

These steps could even reach and tug 'Superman's' cape for blockbuster of the summer. Especially when the booming voice of Ralph Ineson plays the IMAX grand Galactus. Teased but only revealed on the biggest screen where he belongs. The devourer of worlds is actually meant to look like Ineson. Making the Statue of Liberty look like the one in Tokyo's Odaiba. 'Ozark's' Julia Garner splashes any hate that said she couldn't play the Silver Surfer, too. Making this character even more blockbuster iconic than Laurence Fishburne mixed with the great Doug Jones. Especially when she gives chase through space slip streams that could make Star Wars and Star Trek look like a walk on the moon. Next to the giant steps of Galactus, she should be heralded. Just like what Sarah Niles does for this family, and the hushed role that the great Natasha Lyonne plays (even though we wish it was the one she voiced in the animated 'What If...?', as the ultimate love child of Darcy duck). It's no secret, but we won't spoil the classic character that a perfect Paul Walter Hauser plays. It's just a shame that the legendary John Malkovich got his scene cut. Although, you can see him in cartoon credits. And as for the post one, you better not take any steps out of the screen. Forgive me, but I got to say...it's fantastic. And you can say that again. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer', 'Fant4stic', 'Fantastic Four (1994)'.