Fantastic Four: First Steps - Angry Movie Review

Quick Overview

Fantastic Four: First Steps receives an 8 out of 10, praised for its faithful comic book adaptation, particularly its retro-future aesthetic and handling of Galactus, and is considered a tighter, more emotionally resonant film than Superman, despite some pacing issues.

Key Points: Fantastic Four: First Steps receives an 8 out of 10, with reviewers agreeing Marvel finally "got it right" with the franchise. The film is highly praised for its "1950s retro future aesthetic," calling everything from the uniforms to the spaceships "great to look at." Galactus is lauded as being "straight out of the [ ] comics" and accurately portrayed, a significant improvement over past versions. Performances are strong, with Vanessa Kirby noted as "fantastic" and Ben Grimm "absolutely perfect looking" and delivering a solid performance. The movie is considered a "tighter film" than "Superman," allowing emotional moments to "breathe" and avoiding the "break neck" pacing of the other film. Despite its strengths, some reviewers felt the film didn't always reach the emotional heights of "Superman" and noted some sequences were "5 minutes too long."

Context: This review discusses Marvel's latest "Fantastic Four" film, titled "First Steps," comparing it extensively to the recently released "Superman" movie. The reviewers, from the "Angry Joe Show," evaluate the film's success in adapting the iconic comic book characters and their universe to the big screen, considering Marvel's previous attempts with the franchise. They also touch upon their personal investment in characters like Superman, which influences their critical perspective.

Detailed Analysis

The review of "Fantastic Four: First Steps" concludes that Marvel has finally gotten the Fantastic Four right, awarding the film an 8 out of 10. The film is lauded for embracing its comic book roots, especially its "1950s retro future aesthetic," which is described as "great to look at" with excellent costumes and spaceships. Galactus is praised for his comic-accurate portrayal, a significant improvement over previous iterations. The movie is characterized as more of a family film than a typical MCU entry, with a strong focus on family dynamics and interpersonal drama, reminiscent of a "Vin Diesel film" with "badass driving." Performances are highlighted, with Pedro Pascal deemed "serviceable" as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby praised for her portrayal of the Invisible Woman, and Ben Grimm (The Thing) noted as "absolutely perfect looking" with a solid performance. Johnny Storm's character is also seen as well-done, with his womanizing past present but not overemphasized. While the film succeeds in its aesthetic and character portrayals, it is noted that it doesn't always reach the emotional heights of "Superman," and some sequences are considered a bit too long or could have benefited from more action. The film is also commended for being self-contained, requiring no prior MCU knowledge, and for its tight script and good pacing, which allows emotional moments to breathe, unlike the "break neck" pacing of "Superman." Despite some minor criticisms regarding pacing and the handling of Franklin Richards, the film is considered a solid blockbuster hit and a satisfying family movie.