The Fantastic Four: First Steps Reviews: What Do Critics Say About The Marvel Reboot?
First, we had 2005′s edition (and subsequent 2007 sequel, Rise of the Silver Surfer), which starred Chris Evans (who recently reprised the role of Johnny Storm in Deadpool vs Wolverine) and Jessica Alba. A perfectly fine offering... but truly fine at best.
Then we got the moody 2015 reboot. It's somewhat long-forgotten amongst other Marvel films of the time, despite starring Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan – which is maybe for the best given its 9% Rotten Tomatoes scoring.
Now, with a super fun press tour to boot, we've been given a brand new set of superheroes (and Pedro Pascal's entrance to the Marvel cinematic universe at last) alongside new storyline (no origin stories here this time!) – but what do critics make of the latest iteration?
Some have called it 'the best Marvel film yet', while others have labelled it 'not quite the confident strides fans were hoping for' – but if there's one thing they can all agree on, it's that the film heralds a much-needed new era for Marvel.
Check out a selection of the reviews for yourself below…
The Guardian (3/5)
'The result hangs together as an entertaining spectacle in its own innocent self-enclosed universe of fantasy wackiness, where real people actually read the comic books that have made mythic legends of the real Four. I have expressed my dissatisfaction recently with superhero films... but at least this finale emerges from the established story premise, and works well with the tone of uncomplicated fun.'
'If the script doesn't hit quite so many comedic high notes as some other Marvels, it at least brims with sincerity, presenting a heroic squad committed to protecting the Earth, while encouraging the whole world to link arms and do its bit, too. Those are the kind of heroes, it feels, that we need right now.
'This is the best Fantastic Four yet. And if that bar's too low for you, then it's also the best Marvel movie in years.'
Games Radar (3.5/5)
'Fantastic? We'll settle for merely good. Fantastic Four may not be the confident stride Marvel fans were hoping for but, at the very least, it's a solid first step.'
IGN
'These First Steps might not be the great strides I was hoping for, but they are sure footing for the Fantastic Four to officially leap into the MCU.'
The Telegraph (4/5)
'After spending the best part of a decade since Iron Man 3 blundering into the furniture, Marvel has finally learned how to put one foot in front of the other again – and in doing so, arrived at the studio's funniest, most exciting, moving and complete film in more than 10 years.'
BBC
'This film feels like a warm-up, introducing characters who will become major parts of the MCU. These characters are strong enough to stand out amidst the other superheroes, but you can already hear Wikipedia calling.'
The Hollywood Reporter
'All four leads bring something special to their respective roles and to the superbly gauged balance of personalities that makes each of them essential to the group... It's fun but never campy.'
' First Steps is no disaster – but it's no Superman, either. Angst isn't on the cards for Marvel as of now. And it's nice, admittedly, to see the genre embrace wonder once again.'
Variety
'True to its subtitle, the film feels like a fresh start. And like this summer's blockbuster 'Superman' reboot over at DC, that could be just what it takes to win back audiences suffering from superhero exhaustion.'
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