Words by JANE CROWTHER
Yes, that ‘first steps’ title does refer to an origin story of sorts and we meet the Fantastic Four in their retro-future world four years after being zapped by cosmic radiation in space and gaining superpowers. The quartet, in their spiffy blue suits, are just feeling out their position in the world – as protectors, role models, superstars and leaders. But also, as we discover from the off, as parents.
Married supers Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) and Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) may have super-stretchy limbs (him) and the ability to shield and turn invisible (her) but they haven’t managed to get pregnant. Until the opening scene when they can’t hide the happy news from their family, human torch and Sue’s bro, Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) and rock beast The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach). The impending arrival matches another as a shiny, surfing herald (Julia Garner) turns up to declare that planet-munching colossus Galactus (Ralph Inerson) is heading to earth for lunch. Can the four stop him? Will parenthood change things? Is the baby going to have powers?
No spoilers but the answer is yes to all – as Marvel fans know, Franklin Richards will grow to have an impact on everything, not just his Mom and Dad, so this is as much about his first steps as theirs. And while the Jetsons-style world-building is a treat, the real draw here is the emphasis on more relatable aspects of the group’s dynamics. First Steps is essentially a movie about the panic of first-time parents (how can we know what our child will be like? How do we do this right? How do we protect but also nurture?), the primal power of motherhood and the shared experience that connects humanity: family. Anyone who’s ever tried to put a flat-pack cot together or install a car seat will recognise the anxiety of Reed. While the sheer force and yes, superpower, it takes to birth a human is celebrated in Sue’s zero gravity labour. Where it comes slightly undone is in the shifting scale of Galactus (is he planet-sized or Godzilla dimensioned?) and the suspension of disbelief that earth threatened with extinction would happily allow the key to salvation not to be tossed into space in appeasement. But Marvel has a superweapon in Kirby, who sells the emotional pull with her large blue eyes and a demeanour that is the screen definition of an iron fist in a velvet glove. Quite the feat to steal focus from the always excellent Pascal, leaning into his Zaddy charisma and that Grogu daddy softness. A shame that Natasha Lyonne and Julia Garner do not have more to do, but based on this assured debut, the Fantastic Four have many more footsteps ahead of them.
Words by JANE CROWTHER
Photographs courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is out in cinemas now
