‘The Fantastic Four:’ First steps or missteps?

Getting 20 minutes into the MCU’s 37th film, “Fantastic Four: First Steps” made me feel like someone waiting for a spiked brownie to kick in. I was excited about cast: Pedro Pascal (‘nuff said), Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who I love as Cousin Richie from “The Bear;” Joseph Quinn, who made a splash as the rocking Dungeon Master Eddie Munson on “Stranger Things;” and Vanessa Kirby, who killed it as Princess Margaret in the first two seasons of “The Crown.” Not to mention Julia Gardner, Natasha Leone and Ralph Ineson.

I was waiting to get to the point where I’d tell myself, “I’m watching this again!” But I didn’t. I was beginning to wonder if something was wrong with me.

The “digital creators” at the advanced screening on Facebook posted happy reactions, my seat mate on the left sat quite rapt, leaning forward throughout. The Rotten Tomatoes score was a fresh 86 percent.

I whispered to the friend to my right, “Did you have more fun Thunderbolts*?” and he said, “Yes.” Alright, so I’m not the only one.

I did notice the audience was rather quiet for an advanced screening, with the only reaction happening in the final action scene to cheer on a hero move. Of course, they did applaud when the credits rolled.

“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is set in a 1960’s “retrofuture” alternate New York. It involves a family — Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic), his best friend Ben Grimm (The Thing), Reed’s wife Sue Storm (Invisible Woman) and her brother Johnny (Human Torch) — that gets super powers after being exposed to cosmic rays after a space mission. It’s helmed by “WandaVision’s” Matt Shakman.

The movie’s very big bad is Galactus, who I didn’t find particularly villainous. There was something very distant and abstract about his wanting to eat the world. I sat there with no feeling of suspense or sense of danger for our heroes or the people of Earth 828. So much was telegraphed and predictable.

*Spoiler Alert* I also questioned why a very pregnant Sue Storm would go back into outer space while pregnant knowing well enough what happened? Couldn’t the three boys handle the situation? Ah, well, sometimes we need silly decisions in the movies to keep the plot going.

I also felt the movie drowned in CGI reminiscent of “Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania.” The outer space visuals were not particularly trippy or awe-inspiring.

My friend, LA-based comic creator Mike Wellman had an interesting observation in response to a recent “Variety” article with the headline: Kevin Feige on Marvel Studios’ Future, Focusing on Lower Budgets, Less TV and More Robert Downey Jr.

He said, “What was exciting about Marvel 2008 to 2019 was there was so much that was unexpected and surprising and, additionally, they had exciting filmmakers involved who had fresh ideas” (Jon Favreau, James Gunn and Ryan Coogler). He thinks “the franchise is too massive (in size)” for visionary directors to want to get involved anymore. 

Mike continued, “Just like a good rock band, every IP outlives their vitality, their era of blazing new ground and defining themselves. MCU circa 2020 to 2025 is their “Load/ReLoad” era. We will see how much longer they can keep it rolling.”

kkk

Marvel’s “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is out in cinemas and at the IMAX.