Marvel is back with a new take on everyone’s favourite super family - the Fantastic Four

It’s no news to fans that Marvel has had a tough run recently with no big releases since Endgame and quite a few flops, but could they finally be out of their rut with this one? I didn’t have much hope for Fantastic Four: First Steps after watching the car crash that was Captain America: Brave New World, but I think they really stepped up their game with Thunderbolts* and so my expectations were raised. It’s safe to say they did not disappoint. 

The film follows the team 4 years after they first got their powers, beloved by the world they are fighting crime and living their best lives as celebrities. From perfume ads to science TV shows, the gang is everywhere. It’s quite clear that Marvel have gone for a “Beatlemania” vibe with this even to the point of the “Ted Gilbert show” featuring the same stage that The Beatles played on at the “Ed Sullivan show”. The film features a very stressed Reed Richards as he runs constant tests on his newly pregnant wife unsure of what powers, if any, their new baby will possess. 

All goes south when a silver woman comes to Earth riding a surf board and announces that their planet will be consumed by Galactus. While Johnny swoons over their secret interaction the team get ready to battle.

I saw this film twice in cinemas, once on IMAX and once on standard and loved it both times. A big part of the marketing of this film is that it was made for IMAX which is why I wanted to make sure I got to see it on both screens. I definitely think that spending a bit extra for the big screen is worth it. Seeing Galactus quite literally tower over the buildings is amazing, on the standard version you don’t get to fully see how massive he is. But really it is not detrimental to the movie, it is still great on your standard cinema so if there isn’t an IMAX near you don’t fret, the film is still amazing. 

I think everyone’s acting in this was top notch. Joseph Quinn has really shown his range since kicking off his career in Stranger Things. From the sadistic Emperor Geta in Gladiator II to the petrified Eric in A Quiet Place: Day One and now the fan favourite Johnny Storm, I am convinced this man can do anything. He was the perfect mix of the classic womaniser Human Torch we know from Chris Evans while also showing his care for his family and need to prove himself which was really nice side to see. As much as I love Evans take on the character I actually think this may be my favourite version of Johnny. 

Now if you haven’t been singing H.E.R.B.I.E.’s lullaby to Franklin since this movie came out, then you have to be living under a rock. My whole social media has been flooded with tuneful beeps and therefore so has my brain. This loveable robot stole the show for me. I would die for H.E.R.B.I.E. He is the Fantastic Four’s loyal robot sidekick, always helping them fly the ship or cook dinner earning himself head scratches from Johnny as he goes. I have to say I’m gutted that I didn’t go to a cinema that sells the H.E.R.B.I.E. popcorn bucket as that would genuinely make my life complete, I will have to keep my eye out for a reseller that isn’t too expensive!

Pedro Pascal was great as Reed Richards, I think he showed the different sides to his character well, and I truly believed he knew everything he was saying. With such complex lines to deliver they really rolled off his tongue which just sucks you into the story. I do wish we could have seen his powers more in the battles though.

Sue Storm, Vanessa Kirby, was maybe the only character that I didn’t love as much as I had thought I would. Kirby’s acting was brilliant, she played the protective mother role incredibly well but I found Sue as a character to be rather unreasonable which over the course of the film really bothered me. This Sue is very different to the 2005 version, she gets mad at Reed and the people of New York quite a lot and I just wish she would put their incident into perspective from someone else’s point of view for once, rather than just thinking everyone is against her. Aside from that I did like her though and it was nice to see her be able to control her powers better than previous takes on the Invisible Woman having had them for 4 years. 

Ben Grimm is a loveable character in Fantastic Four: First Steps, he is a lot less angry than we have seen him in the past and I think I prefer this take. I still don’t know how I feel about the beard though…

All in all I loved this film. It out did my expectations and I am so glad it did. Following on from Thunderbolts*, this feels like a new and positive wave of Marvel movies and I can not wait to see where that takes us into Doomsday. I am interested to know how these two movies will line up with such suspenseful post credit scenes!

I herald this film as a must watch for all Marvel fans!