The Fantastic Four: First Steps Review
With Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby leading a restrained, heartfelt reboot, First Steps breathes new life into a familiar story by focusing on a smaller, more intimate scale rather than grandiosity.
When it becomes impossible to make something enormous even bigger, going smaller can be the solution. This seems to be the approach Marvel has attempted with The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Although the threat the characters face is significant, the story unfolds on a more personal and contained level.
Visual Style and Narrative
Unlike the usual superhero blockbusters defined by nonstop explosions and heavy special effects, Matt Shakman’s film embraces a distinct visual style with a limited cast. The tone is unusually dramatic for this genre, featuring a clear, direct narrative that emphasizes emotion.
“For the first time in a long while, you get the sense that a Marvel movie has a personal vision, a coherent one—and that it also fulfills its mission to entertain.”
Matt Shakman's Direction
Shakman’s background includes directing a single feature film before this, the 2014 movie Cut Bank, as well as numerous television episodes from acclaimed series such as Mad Men, Game of Thrones, Fargo, and Succession.
Key Cast
- Pedro Pascal
- Vanessa Kirby
Their performances anchor the film’s emotional core, bringing depth to this reboot.