“Wandavision†must have given folks at Marvel a way back into its Avengers franchise. Instead of adding to all those sequels, it went in another direction and recalled a different era.
So, too, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.†Set in a ‘60s world where robots look like electric shavers and mid-century modern furniture is the height of style, it gives us a “Jetsons†feel without ripping off that show. Here, four crime fighters use the powers they gained by going into space to halt a villain who’s out to destroy this futuristic planet.
While devising a plan, Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) gives birth to a son with Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), leader of the pack and the mathematical brains behind the Four. Sue’s brother, Johnny (Joseph Quinn), and their friend Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), are also in tow, utilizing invisibility, fire, force and stretch to pull off impressive feats.
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Pedro Pascal appears in a scene from "The Fantastic Four: First Steps."Ìý
The baby? Who knows what skills he possesses, but he becomes a bargaining chip for the evil Galactus (Ralph Ineson), who’d like to make a swap.
Naturally, the Four aren’t about to do that, but they do come up with a plan that could end the threat and let their world move into a bold new future.
Setting it in another time quickly pulls this “Fantastic Four†away from earlier, less successful ones. Director Matt Shakman doesn’t bother with detailing much of what came before, dropping in on a fully formed superhero world. That works well, particularly since nothing drags a film like an origins story.
Reed’s stretching power, in fact, doesn’t become a real thing until later in the episode. Shakman uses old-school animation to fill in the gaps and makes much of some very impressive sets. Retro buildings and signs signal a less complicated time and allow the four to move without much pushback. If Disney wasn’t a huge conglomerate, Pixar’s “The Incredibles†might have had reason to question similarities. They’re there, but because this is live action, it doesn’t sting as much as it could.
Thankfully, Kirby and Pascal are a loving couple; Moss-Bachrach has a fan base clamoring to hear his catchphrase; and Quinn is more frustrated relative than hothead. Put them together and there’s enough here to fuel a decent franchise.
A sexy alien (Julia Garner) whizzes in, too, as Galactus’ mouthpiece.
“Fantastic Four,†however, doesn’t seem like one of those superhero films where everything is a mystery. Even if you’ve never heard of them, you accept what they’re unfolding. The nostalgia factor prompts that.
