MOVIES: The summer's biggest film (probably) and a couple of small heartfelt gems

National Observer

4 days ago

For weeks, it's been at the top of the list of films people are most anxious to see this summer. Now that The Fantastic Four: First Steps is here, its studio has a chance to do two things. Marvel can battle back against its rival, DC Studios and their big hit Superman. The other they'll deem more crucial: to dispel the charge that their movies have become repetitive and always the same. Even the fans are feeling Marvel fatigue according to many articles and much online chatter. My thoughts on the movie are below.
Before that, notice two other new films: Samia and Oh, Hi. Both worth your attention. And also notice that three films that got high praise when they first came out have just started streaming on CRAVE. American Fiction is a satirical look at racial attitudes in the American literary scene. Hereditary is a spooky film starring Tony Collette and made by Ari Aster, whose new one, Eddington, is in theaters right now. And out of season there's The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, a very funny family film about a scramble to put on the show and fight prejudice.
And new in theaters, we have …
The Fantastic Four: First Steps: 3 stars
Samia: 4
Oh, Hi: 3 ½
THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS: I didn't read the comic books, but I understand they were groundbreaking when they started back in 1961. The characters argued, didn't just push a truth, justice and the American way ethos and even wrestled with the problems of celebrity. They didn't conceal their identity and had avid fans both inside their stories and among the readers. This is the fourth try at making a movie about them, after three weak efforts, one of which wasn't even officially released. This, finally, is a good one and honours them by going back to a simpler time. There's no politics or social change intruding, although it seems to be set in the 1960s and one cryptic comment may be about climate change. The action never gets overblown and frantic and the film plays comfortably with a retro feel.
A quick crowded montage at the start sets up the situation. The four were flown into outer space and came back with their DNA rearranged and bearing alter egos. Reed Richards (by the very busy actor Pedro Pascal) is now also Mister Fantastic. Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) is also Invisible Woman, alongside Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach).
They argue like a family but also save the world when needed, which has to happen again when Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) arrives to announce that the earth is about to be 'swallowed' by the 'The Devourer', also known as Galactus.
The team has to go back to space to look for him, even though Sue Storm is pregnant and gives birth along the way. Galactus demands the baby be given to him (something to do with one part of his plot). He's refused, and the child becomes a lure to get him to come down to earth for a final battle among New York skyscrapers, which he is as tall as. There's not much suspense to speak of, but easy-to-take action and a sunny mood from director Matt Shakman, who the fans will remember for Wanda Vision, the Marvel TV series he made. (In theaters everywhere) 3 out of 5
SAMIA: A repressive society. A woman determined to disobey the rules imposed on her. We've seen that story before, and will again, but here's a particularly good version of it. And it's all true, as far as we know, anyway. It comes from a true-life novel about a real person: Samia Yusuf Omar, who lived in the African nation of Somalia and dreamed of being a champion runner. 'I'll be the fastest runner in the world,' she says in the movie. We see her trying hard, running in the streets of Mogidishu as a small girl, then as a teen and then grown up and played by llham Mohamed Osman.
Along with her story, we get a good history lesson about her country. She's warned it's dangerous out there and advised to stay home and 'stop being stupid.' She defies the rules, by running for one thing, by refusing to wear a veil for another. She is confronted by militia soldiers now and then with proclamations that wearing shorts and a tee-shirt is a sin. She kept at it though, secretly training at night, with a brother as coach and her father's encouragement. She got on to the national Olympics team, competed in Beijing and through most of the film is trying to get ready for the London Olympics.
But there are setbacks and tragedies. She pays human traffickers to get her to Europe and that's a harrowing trip. She dies. How isn't exactly known, but based on the book by Giuseppe Catozzella we get a possible idea. (People in Vancouver might remember he came to the writer's festival there when he wrote the book). The film doesn't have her complete story, but it does give a very moving view of her willpower and bravery. It's sharply directed by Yasemin Samdereli. She's German, and the film is a co-production along with Belgium and Italy. It's powerful. (In theaters: Toronto now, Ottawa next week, Vancouver and Victoria soon) 4 out of 5
OH, HI: Romantic comedies are a mixed genre, but check this one out. It's not like the usual; it's innovative, takes chances and comes off very funny and smart. I have a few small caveats. They don't harm it though.
A couple go off on a romantic weekend to a country house they've rented and things go off pretty fast.
They find a set of bondage handcuffs and decide to play kinky, first with her (Molly Gordon) chained to the bed while he (Logan Lerman) comes on to her. Then the reverse. While he's chained, he tactlessly admits he's not looking for a lasting relationship. She's shocked. Feels rejected, leaves him chained up and gives him 12 hours to change his mind. Whenever she's out of the room, he strains to reach the key lying just out of reach. She, meanwhile, has invited a couple of friends (Geraldine Viswanathan, John Reynolds) and plays good host all the while hiding from them what's going on.
The story isn't that special, but it is workable. What makes it shine is the dialogue that Gordon has co-written with the director, Sophie Brooks. The couple dole out what they want from each other. They ask each other about their early lives (a little too much because you'd think they'd already explored that since they've been dating for four months). They relish the similarities they turn up and suffer with the misunderstandings. He gets fed up and angry. Says he's been kidnapped and will report it to the police when he gets free. That just makes her resent him more. She accuses him of pursuing her in the first place. 'You made me like you,' she says. What women need in a relationship comes up when she talks with her friend, as do more erudite matters like evolution. A detour into the subject of witchcraft is out of place, but the rest of the film is a smart contemplation of dating and male-female relations today. Both Gordon and Lerman are terrific as the characters they play. (In theaters) 3 ½ out of 5