• Release year: 2025
• Director: Matt Shakman.
• Producer: Kevin Feige.
• Screenplay by: Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan, and Ian Springer.
• Cinematography by: Jess Hall.
• Music by: Michael Giacchino.

Shotgun Commentary: the characters you know, only in a film actually worth watching.

Review

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is the latest Marvel instalment, a great summer film that for anyone who enjoys superhero movies. Contrary to prior versions, this film has been made with a level of maturity that shows it’s not the 2000s any more, and enough respect for the audience to not tell you the exact same sob story again.

What you came for

The feature begins with one of the most relatable scenes you can make featuring a married couple of superheroes: Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) is looking for iodine and claiming there is none, while Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) asks him to wait for 12 seconds so she can go get it for him. Why 12 seconds? Well, because the MCU has an unhealthy obsession with the number, and because she’s waiting for her pregnancy test to confirm her suspicions.

From then on, the film becomes about how the group will adapt to the coming of a new, potentially-super baby. A few baby-proofing and pregnancy-related, comedic, light scenes later, the threat shows up, and it’s time for the beloved Fantastic Four to take care of it. To confirm your suspicions, yes, it is your average superhero movie. However, there are three main reasons why this movie is fantastic (pun very much intended). So if you like the genre, do keep reading.

What you (really) came for

Firstly and most obvious, the production design. Absolutely every single detail has been taken care of to create this retrofuturistic Earth where the 60s meet the 3000s. The sets are gorgeous, the technology shown is whimsical and fun, and there is a cute, unintelligible robot that you can love without being very emotionally invested with it. Kinda like Superman (2025), only with no clue what the robot is saying.

Still, the absolute killer is the wardrobe department. Say what you will about the film, but it is a fashion show you don’t want to miss. Sure, it might not be what you’re there for, but it is certainly a cookie point in their favour. Not to mention that the era of getting superheroes naked for no real reason is over, so cheers to that.

What you’ll stay for

Secondly, the cast. Kirby and Pascal absolutely steal the show, as expected. Their take on the characters is mature and nuanced, placing them miles away from prior, more exaggerated versions. Their relationship feels relatable and inspirational regardless of their superhero personas. As for Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), his portrayal has left the playboy rebel everyone knows and, honestly, has had enough of, in favour of a more useful and realistic version. An adult, if you will, instead of a manchild.

However, the best upgrade is undoubtedly Grimm’s storyline. Not only does Ebon Moss-Bachrach play a lovable The Thing, you are also spared the Grimm’s depressing era of coming to terms with not being a pretty, human-looking man any more. Thankfully, this The Thing is comfortable in his rocky skin, and you can focus on other more relevant matters of him, like whether the food has enough garlic or not.

What you’ll (really) stay for

Third, last, and by far the most important: Sue’s pregnancy. This is one of the best portrayals of a pregnancy ever. Is it realistic? Yours truly isn’t qualified to tell, and the birth scene is definitely bonkers. Nevertheless, it is the pregnancy itself that makes a powerful statement. Gone are the scenes where the man asks his wife to stay bedridden like a convalescent or dying person. Say goodbye to treating women like useless just because they are pregnant, and hello to treating them like what they are: adults who can make decisions about what they need on that period of their lives.

Sue doesn’t stop her life just because she’s pregnant. That is her choice, and none of her male teammates feel the irrepressible need to mansplain her needs to her. In addition to a carefully placed prop during a conversation that speaks volumes of the great relationship between Reed and Sue, and his unwavering involvement as a helper and carer instead of a condescending nuisance.

All in all, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is what you want a superhero movie to be. An entertaining tale of wonder where good and evil clash, and you have fun watching the good guys win for once. In a moment where the horrors seem to pile up outside our doors, films like this keep your spirits up and your inner nerd happy.

Thanks to Walt Disney UK for big-screen access! The Fantastic Four: First Steps will be released the 24th of July.

Advice to take from this movie:

• Unless you are her gynaecologist, never tell a pregnant woman what she can or cannot do.
• Having a kid must be great, but being the cool uncle? Now that’s the sh*t right there.
• A cute robot will always lift a narrative.

What’s your take? Have you watched The Fantastic Four: First Steps? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message in my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀