31/07/2025

LYFE THURSDAY | JULY 31, 2025

25

Ű BY YASMIN ZULRAEZ

MOVIE REVIEW

M ARVEL Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps is exactly what the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) needed: a retro-futuristic breath of fresh air served with vintage aesthetics, cosmic threats and a family dynamic that finally feels… real. Directed by Matt Shakman, this PG-13 spectacle revives Marvel’s First Family with enough charm to win over diehard fans and enough self-awareness to keep casual viewers engaged, even if the occasional visual hiccup reminds everyone that perfection is a moving target. Set in a 1960s-inspired alternate Earth, First Steps wisely skips the tired origin route and drops audiences straight into a world where Reed (Pedro Pascal), Sue (Vanessa Kirby), Ben (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and Johnny (Joseph Quinn) are already established, bickering and saving lives together. There is no lab accident, no slow build-up, just four very different people doing their best to be heroes, family and functioning adults (in that order, usually). Kirby seizes moment If this film had a secret weapon, her name is Kirby. As Sue Storm, scientist, forcefield queen and mum, she anchors the team with a fierce emotional intelligence that makes her leader and heart. Kirby’s version of Sue is layered and quietly complex – the kind of character who does not need to shout to command a room. She is maternal, yes, but never meek, and definitely not the “smiling supportive wife” trope of older versions. It is a star turn that does not scream for attention but effortlessly earns it. And while Kirby is undeniably the standout, it is worth noting that no one on this team feels like filler. Pascal’s Reed is delightfully awkward, all brain and zero social cues, a man whose stretchy limbs are somehow less elastic than his attention span. Quinn brings a cheeky, younger-brother energy to Johnny, mixing bravado and vulnerability in equal measure. He is the cool guy with a soft core and a lighter in his pocket – charming, cocky and just self-aware enough to know it. Meanwhile, Moss-Bachrach delivers a Thing that is physically massive and emotionally nuanced. His Ben is gruff, grounded and full of grumbly warmth, the kind of guy who could punch a crater in a planet and still make it to

Marvel’s wholesome First Family returns with charm

o Accessible, entertaining reboot Sunday dinner. And, yes, they look like siblings. Real siblings. Not “Hollywood guesses what genes do” siblings. The visual cohesion between Kirby and Quinn is so convincing, some viewers might assume they were cast from the same family tree. Fantastic CGI... mostly Visually, the film is a mixed bag – mostly great, occasionally glitchy and once or twice downright strange. The retro-futuristic design is an aesthetic feast: chrome architecture, mod fashion and space-age tech that feel nostalgic and new at the same time. When it works, it really works. Battles are grand – Galactus is menacing and Silver Surfer glides across the screen like a cosmic ballet dancer. But then there are moments, a background blur here, a rubbery limb

A welcoming Marvel’s cosmic family adventure reboot.

there, that break the immersion just enough to raise eyebrows. And let us talk about the baby. Adorable? Yes. Vital to the plot? Yes. Consistently rendered? Absolutely not. One moment, the infant looks like a Gerber model dropped into a Marvel movie. The next? Something resembling a tech demo from a 2004 PS2 cutscene. It is unintentionally hilarious and strangely charming, depending on the scene. Still, none of these quirks derail the experience. The CGI wobbles feel more like speed bumps than potholes, distracting but not destructive.

From left: Reed (Pascal), Franklin and Sue (Kirby) share a quiet moment amid the chaos.

For fans, for newbies What makes First Steps especially notable is its accessibility. It is not a sequel that needs homework and not a fan-service minefield. Whether someone has been following the MCU for 16 years or wandered in after seeing a TikTok edit of Pascal, this film is welcoming. It offers all the emotional beats and explosive action MCU fans expect, but with enough character focus and narrative clarity to keep the casual crowd engaged. It is a Marvel movie, yes, but it is also a family dramedy in

0 Director: Matt Shakman 0 Cast: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Julia Garner E-VALUE 8 ACTING 7 PLOT 7

Johnny / Human Torch (Quinn) turns up the heat in a fiery display of confidence.

space-age packaging. There is enough humour to soften the stakes, enough heart to elevate the chaos and enough weirdness to keep it interesting. That said, First Steps would not work for everyone. Viewers looking for gritty realism or multiverse chaos might find it too stylised or too self-contained. Some will be turned off by the tonal shifts, the retro vibe or the very existence of a talking robot named H.E.R.B.I.E., but that is fine. Not every Marvel film needs to please every quadrant and this one knows exactly what it wants to be. Reboot full of charm First Steps is a refreshingly self-assured reintroduction to Marvel’s most underrated team. With Kirby leading the charge in a performance that quietly steals the entire film and Pascal bringing just the right amount of chaotic genius, this movie nails the tricky balance between superhero spectacle and heartfelt family drama. The ensemble cast clicks effortlessly, the sibling chemistry is uncanny (literally) and even when the CGI veers into wonky territory or the baby briefly morphs into a digital fever

The heroes approach the towering presence of Galactus.

Ben / The Thing (Moss Bachrach) stands his ground with rocky resolve.

Franklin (right), the youngest member of the team, proves even babies can steal the scene.

dream, the story never loses its emotional grounding. This Marvel film does not demand encyclopaedic MCU knowledge or a spreadsheet of cameos to be enjoyed. It is fun, focused and full of personality. Some may nitpick the stylistic swings or uneven visuals, but

when the core cast and character work shine this brightly, it is easy to forgive the flaws. In a sea of multiverse mayhem, First Steps reminds audiences why they fell in love with superheroes in the first place, not because of the powers, but because of the people.