Latest news with #FirstFamily
Washington Post
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
What parents need to know about ‘The Fantastic Four,' ‘Ballard' and more
Age 11+ Marvel's First Family gets a retro, action-packed reboot. This Marvel Cinematic Universe adventure unfolds in an alternate version of Earth that resembles the 1960s. It follows superheroes Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as they work together to protect their world from extraterrestrial forces. Expect frequent comic book-style action and large-scale destruction. Violence include battles with superpowers (fire, force fields, super strength), high-speed pursuits, collapsing buildings and intense suspense (such as a baby in danger). While there's little blood or on-screen death, one planet's destruction implies mass casualties. An affectionate married couple kisses and holds hands, and there's a mildly suggestive joke about pregnancy. Characters briefly drink what appears to be beer. Language includes infrequent use of 'bulls---,' 'sweet Jesus' and 'God.' Positive themes include teamwork, perseverance, unconditional familial love and using your abilities to protect others. (118 minutes) Available in theaters. Age 15+ Broody detective spin-off has cursing, violence and sex. Starring Maggie Q as Detective Renée Ballard, this 'Bosch' spin-off explores mature topics such as murder, sexism, sexual assault and police corruption. There's lots of violent content: shootings, physical altercations, images of corpses and more. There are also suggested sexual acts and bare bottoms, and you can expect to hear words such as 'f---,' 's---,' 'b----' and 'goddamn.' Characters occasionally drink beer and discuss drug use (usually within the context of criminal activity). (10 episodes) Available on Prime Video. Age 8+ Branded stop-motion story looks sweet but has dark twists. This stop-motion animated series is based on characters from the Japanese brand Sanrio. While it may come across as cute and fluffy, the story gradually gets darker as characters with glowing eyes act possessed, chase the protagonists and even eat a character made out of cotton candy. There's no gore or blood, but the lighting and sound effects might distress younger viewers. For kids who can handle fantasy horror or are used to dense anime plots, this one is full of mystery and complexities. The series arrives at a positive message about kindness and friendship, but there's plenty of negativity in the road there. My Melody (voiced by Junko Takeuchi) is a role model of kindness, caring and positivity. Kuromi (Rei Sakuma), on the other hand, wants to compete and acts out in rage by yelling, growling and mistreating others. (12 episodes) Available on Netflix. Age 3+ Simple preschool stories star Mickey and pals. Targeted toward preschoolers, this is a colorful reboot of the animated 'Mickey Mouse Clubhouse' educational series that aired from 2006 to 2016. Featuring Mickey (voiced by Bret Iwan), Minnie (Kaitlin Robrock), Donald (Tony Anselmo) and other classic Disney characters, this simple series finds the crew modeling teamwork as they solve problems and learn together. Expect mildly scary excitement — like Mickey being whisked away by a hot-air balloon — that's quickly resolved. Otherwise, there's no iffy content. (10 episodes) Available on Disney Jr. and Disney+. Common Sense Media helps families make smart media choices. Go to for age-based and educational ratings and reviews for movies, games, apps, TV shows, websites and books.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New movies to watch this weekend: See 'The Fantastic Four' in theaters, rent 'Materialists,' stream 'Happy Gilmore 2' on Netflix and more
"The Fantastic Four: First Steps" shows that "Superman" was the start of a new trend. Hello, Yahoo readers! My name is Brett Arnold, film critic and longtime Yahoo editor, and I'm back with another edition of Trust Me, I Watch Everything. This week, there are a handful of movies coming to streaming services you're likely already paying for, including Wes Anderson's latest, an indie gem about baseball and a fun self-aware horror flick. The biggest new release is The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the latest attempt at making the Marvel characters pop onscreen with a buzzy new A-list cast, including Pedro Pascal. If you're looking for more Pascal, make it a double feature: His rom-dram Materialists is available to rent. Read on for more, because there's something here for everyone! What to watch in theaters Movies newly available to rent or buy Movies newly available on streaming services you may already have 🎥What to watch in theaters My recommendation: The Fantastic Four: First Steps Why you should watch it: The Fantastic Four: First Steps proves that James Gunn's Superman wasn't a one-off and instead was the start of an emerging trend of superhero movies. Both are comic book flicks that are meant to be introduction films, as well as reboots featuring iconic characters we've already seen onscreen before. They both purposefully avoid harping much on a character's origin story. The Fantastic Four: First Steps depicts it very quickly up top, whereas Superman throws you right into the action. Both rely on the audience knowing who these people are and what they do without getting bogged down by lore. That being said, each movie is meant to emulate the experience of reading a comic book, picking up an issue and getting caught up in that one arc without having to worry about its place in the larger universe. The best thing about The Fantastic Four: First Steps is that it doesn't adhere to the Marvel house style and has a unique look that's decidedly its own: a retro-futuristic take on the 1960s that feels as indebted to The Jetsons as it does the comic books its based on. Superman opened with Clark Kent having already been Superman for three years, and First Steps similarly opens with our heroes celebrating four years as America's superhero protectors. The public knows who they are and appreciates their efforts to keep them safe. But Marvel's First Family is soon forced to balance their roles as heroes and the strength of their family bond while defending Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) is pregnant with the child of Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), and the movie explores how Reed tries to 'babyproof the world,' as a character in the film puts it, and protect their kid from real and specific dangers — in this case, Galactus. The film is at its best when its leaning into either the silliness or the scale of the sci-fi comic book world these characters inhabit, like when we get a glimpse of villain Mole Man (Paul Walter Hauser, a highlight) and his underground world of Subterranea, or when the plot turns to the idea of teleporting entire planets in order to save lives. The foreboding Galactus, who is the size of a skyscraper and more menacing than any villain I can think of in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is an undeniable selling point. Maybe it's just my love for science fiction showing, but a bad guy that's just the Death Star incarnate, destroying planets as if they were nothing, is scary, strong stuff. If I have a major complaint, it's that the Fantastic Four's powers are never really utilized in a way that feels specific to each character. It's all just generic superhero zipping around and shooting forceful beams out of their hands. The wildly specific skillsets all feel incidental here, rather than expertly written and woven into the narrative or the action. The Bear's Ebon Moss-Bacharach is terrific as the voice of the Thing, but the character feels like he has little to do here, and the entirely CGI creation of his being pales in comparison to the onscreen depiction 20 years ago, when Michael Chiklis was transformed into the character with extensive makeup. Joseph Quinn is fun as Johnny Storm, but he too just flies around while on fire. The Fantastic Four: First Steps may be the third attempt at bringing these classic comic book characters (the fourth, actually, if you count the hastily-made-to-keep-the-rights unreleased 1994 version) but it's undeniably the most successful of that very cursed bunch. The speed-run character development is a barrier at first, but by the end, I was worn down and accepted that this is what comic book movies are now, nearly 20 years after Iron Man changed everything for the genre. On paper, I love the idea of skipping the origin story, but after Superman and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, I just think more work needs to be done setting up these worlds if I'm expected to buy in. For those unfamiliar with the characters, who have never seen a Fantastic Four movie or read one of their comic books, I do wonder if the experience is meaningfully different. What other critics are saying: Most agree that Marvel finally got it right this time. William Bibbiani at The Wrap says it's first-rate, writing, "whatever its drawbacks, feels like a real Fantastic Four movie, and that's no small achievement." The Associated Press's Jake Coyle agrees that the villains steal the show and calls it "a very solid comic book movie." How to watch: The Fantastic Four: First Steps is in theaters nationwide July 25. Get tickets 🤔 But that's not all! This ridiculously bonkers horror movie starring Pete Davidson and directed by The Purge mastermind James DeMonaco was shot in early 2022 and is only now sneaking into theaters. Davidson plays a troubled man who starts working at a retirement home and realizes its residents and caretakers harbor sinister secrets. It's unpredictable in a fun way, even if it feels like you're watching a different movie in the final 10 minutes. Get tickets. : A derivative found-footage horror vehicle for Kris Collins, aka KallMeKris, a Canadian TikToker who has a massive following on the social media platform. It's ripping off The Blair Witch Project for most of the runtime, until it gets to the third act and imitates a different popular horror movie. It doesn't amount to much, sadly. Get tickets. 💸Movies newly available to rent or buy My recommendation: Why you should watch it: You can get a double helping of Pedro Pascal this weekend, if you're into that sort of thing, as the controversial Materialists is now watchable from your couch. As I wrote when it debuted in theaters, it disappoints in comparison to Past Lives, writer-director Celine Song's debut film, and the script ultimately lets down the actors, even if the performances are all very good. What other critics are saying: There are strong opinions on both sides here. Stephanie Zacharek at Time writes that it's "more bittersweet than sweet, which is what makes it so wonderful, in a wistful, elusive way." The Daily Beast's Nick Schager dubs it a disappointing letdown, calling it "the cinematic equivalent of a sugary soda gone terribly flat." How to watch: Materialists is now available to rent or buy on Amazon, Apple TV and other VOD platforms. Rent or buy 'Materialists' ➕ Bonus recommendation Why you should watch it: The always-great Danielle Deadwyler stars in this postapocalyptic thriller about a Black family of Canadian farmers descended from American Civil War migrants defending their homestead against cannibals trying to seize their resources. Its specific approach to the apocalypse, that it's about food scarcity and the importance of farms in that future, makes it stand out from plenty of similar fare, as does the terrific and dynamic gunplay that unexpectedly takes up the latter half. The focus on family is also very effective. Much better than you'd expect from this sort of low-budget affair. What other critics are saying: Most agree it's worth your time! Rolling Stone's David Fear writes, "She's not better than the movie. Deadwyler just makes the movie better by every choice she's making as an actor." Amy Nicholson at the Los Angeles Times agrees, writing that "there's not one false beat in Deadwyler's performance." How to watch: 40 Acres is now available to rent or buy on Amazon, Apple TV and other VOD platforms. Rent or buy '40 Acres' 🤔 But that's not all! : This is a horror movie about a serial killer whose method of killing is feeding his victims to sharks. I wish I didn't have to tell you that because the opening scene is such a shocking introduction, but the trailer gives it away immediately. It's still absolutely worth watching, if that sounds like your kind of thing. Rent or buy. Disney's live-action remake became the first and only movie to gross $1 billion this year, and now you can help it make more money by paying to rent it! As per usual with these things, it's not as nice to look at as the animated original, but it gets the job done. Rent or buy. 📺Movies newly available on streaming services you may have My recommendation: Why you should watch it: My colleague Kelsey Weekman was lucky enough to catch it early, and her review is below! What I at first thought was a depressingly obvious cash grab involving one of Adam Sandler's most beloved characters turned out to be a shockingly sweet (and still very funny) follow-up about the lengths even the biggest weirdos will go to for family. Nearly 30 years after the original came out, I wasn't sure how many more times they could turn hitting a golf ball so hard it makes rocket launcher noises into an effective gag, but thanks to some new characters who kept it true to the Sandler ethos (loud, ridiculous, playfully violent), it felt like a truly fresh franchise installment rather than a ham-handed appeal to nostalgia. But trust me, there are still plenty of nods to the original. Bad Bunny, aka Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, steals the show. What other critics are saying: There aren't any other reviews as of publication time. You'll have to trust Kelsey on this one! How to watch: Happy Gilmore 2 is now streaming on Netflix. Stream 'Happy Gilmore 2' ➕ Bonus recommendation: Why you should watch it: Sometimes, all you need is a cheap but satisfying B-movie about a creature on an island killing people in increasingly gory ways. Bonus points if the creature just so happens to be a guy in a suit. This World War II-set throwback is as inspired by the films of Jack Arnold (specifically Creature From the Black Lagoon) as it is Predator, and it delivers on the promise. The story about two guys from opposite sides of the war forced to band together against a greater threat works quite well! What other critics are saying: There aren't many reviews for this one yet, so you'll have to take my word for it. If you're into low-budget stuff buoyed by great practical FX work and better-than-average performances, check it out. How to watch: Monster Island is now streaming on Shudder. Stream 'Monster Island' 🤔 But that's not all! The latest film from Wes Anderson is a decidedly silly one. Imagine the usual Andersonian look and feel, now with cartoonish violence, and a terrific performance from Benicio Del Toro at its center. I wrote more about it here. Now streaming on Peacock. This quietly profound indie about a baseball team playing their last-ever game functions as a metaphor about life and the eventual bitter end of the things we love. How can you not be romantic about baseball?! I wrote more here. Now streaming on Mubi. This horror flick based on a popular video game leans more Cabin in the Woods send-up than earnest horror, and fans of the genre will enjoy the way it plays with conventions. Now streaming on Netflix. Steve Coogan is sensational in this cute movie inspired by the true story of a disillusioned Englishman who went to work in a school in Argentina in 1976 and how his life is transformed when he befriends a penguin. Streaming on Netflix July 26. This A24 movie starring Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd is a high-concept fantastical comedy that eventually turns into goofy horror. I found it insufferable, but, hey, it's on HBO Max now, so you're not paying for streaming on HBO Max. That's all for this week — we'll see you next Friday at the movies!
Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Fantastic Four matches Superman as fan reviews say new film is 'absolutely perfect'
Many Marvel fans are claiming new instalment is worth the hype The Fantastic Four: First Steps has matched Superman as fan reviews claim the new film is 'absolutely perfect'. Marvel's new iteration on the popular comic book characters is the first time they have been seen on screen since the rights reverted back to Disney. Despite being a part of the MCU, it is being billed as the studio's first standalone movie. Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, the film introduces a new version of Marvel's First Family including Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach). They face their most daunting challenge yet. Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus' plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren't bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal. Critics have already had their say on the film with it earning an impressive 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Now fans are sharing their own reviews online as the title becomes available to the general public. Fans are clearly delighted with the film as it has managed to match recent release Superman from DC Studios with its fan rating popcorn meter. It may yet even beat James Gunn directed Superman sits with a 92% fan rating. Fantastic Four started the morning with the same but at the time of writing it periodically ticks over to 93% as more user ratings are added. Fan reaction is overwhelmingly positive for the new film as many share their opinions online. One claimed: "This what marvel is missing all these years. Fantastic four is worked really well in all a departments while keeping the audience engaged at same time." Another added: "There's not one boring moment in this movie. Stunning visuals, very ambitious. Vanessa Kirby is the standout, she incorporates everything you want Sue to be. Will watch again!" A third said: "What can I say?…its freaking fantastic from the very beginning till the end credit scene. Family bonding between the characters, absolutely perfect. Pedro as Reed, Vennessa as Sue, Joseph as Johnny are freaking more than perfect. Highly recommend to watch in cinema only." Meanwhile, one person went so far as to say: "Holy MOLY FANTASTIC!!! I went into this with low expectations concerning the last couple years of marvel but I did not expect a masterpiece. There I said it… a masterpiece. And it's been quite a while since I said that word. It's that kind of movie that makes you FEEL like you're in it. Can't wait for the future!" Even those that were sceptical about the movie before it was released seemed convinced. As one person admitted: "Coming into film I wasn't a fan of the cast and I thought by a woman being sliver surfer and not the original it would lose aura…man was u wrong. Best Sliver Surfer By Far Best Fantastic Four Cast By Far Outstanding acting performance." They continued: "Galactus was So comic book accurate it was dream seeing him on the Imax screen. I really left this cinema with nothing bad to say, I hear people wanted more action but Fantastic Four is more about science and space, so for its first instalment into the MCU it doesn't miss a spot." With the film's close proximity in release dates to DC's Superman, it has drawn comparisons. There are some who are locked in debate over which are superior but many are happy that there is currently a movie from each side they can enjoy just as much. One fan declared: "Marvel is back and DC is coming along and my heart might burst into a thousand galaxies. I'm excited for both Marvel and DC right now."
NDTV
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
The Fantastic Four: First Steps Review - One Of The Best And Boldest Of 37 Marvel Films Made So Far
New Delhi: The group dynamic that unfolds when MCU superheroes fly as a team, as they have done ad nauseam in the Avengers, X-Men and The Marvels adventures, operates on a completely different plane in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, a reboot of a film series that has struggled to achieve sustained commercial success. A family that stands together and fights for the wider community they are a part of is at the root of the movie. Not every step that the brood of superheroes take is in the right direction, but the progress they make in reinventing Marvel's First Family represents a move of promising proportions. What the FF dish out here might not possess the potential to dramatically alter the MCU landscape but it does pull off a refreshing new way of looking at invincible heroes endowed with powers to prevent the annihilation of their endangered planet. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a standalone film. Nothing that occurs in it connects it directly to plot elements of past MCU movies nor do the latter impinge upon the war to save Earth 828. It ploughs its own furrow and paves the way for what could be an effective franchise if it is built right. Indeed, The Fantastic Four: First Steps holds much potential - markedly more than what the previous attempt - 2015's underperforming Fantastic Four - contained. Scripted by Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer, it is a touch low on conventional superhero action and also a bit lean on narrative meat, but it is perky, pointed and punchy, especially when it knows which way it needs to go. First Steps is an unusual MCU superhero film in that it does not foray into the Marvel multiverse. Taking place in an alternate, retro-futuristic 1960s reality, it is focused on establishing the characters, their mission and their cavernous ultramodern home and headquarters, Baxter Building, equipped with snazzy high-tech gear and robotic assistants. Never overly fantastical, it has emotional and ethical heft. It explores pregnancy and childbirth, identity and kinship, parenthood and friendship, and even intimations of mortality, in a way that is strikingly unique for the genre. It is about human feelings, family bonds and interconnectedness beyond what we perceive as home and habitat. In the process, First Steps has to deal with inevitable conflicting impulses. It vacillates between wanting to be a family drama and being a true-blue superhero adventure. The tussle makes it all the more interesting. Despite its manageable runtime - five minutes under two hours - it slows down appreciably at times to explain what it is trying to convey to the audience through its simple story of a close-knit group defending their home. They face a grave threat from a giant ravenous being Galactus (Ralph Ineson), who, like an all-powerful pagan God and an arch-villain rolled into one, devours planets to satiate his hunger. It is an outer space creature, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner), who conveys the dire news of impending doom to the people of Earth 828. Who else can the alarmed people turn to but the Fantastic Four? Though they are more scientists who brainstorm before they leap than primed-for-action heroes always ready to hit the ground running, the quartet wastes no time in putting their heads together and responding to the onerous challenge of keeping Galactus at bay. It is four years since the four have acquired superhuman powers from exposure to cosmic rays during a mission in space. Dr Reed Richards/Mr Fantastic (Pedro Pascal) and his wife Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby) are expecting a baby they thought they would never conceive. For them as well as Sue's brother Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Reed's best pal, the rock monster Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), the arrival of the baby is a cause for great joy. But having had their DNAs altered, Reed and Sue worry about the powers that the child might be born with. The baby is caught (as a bargaining chip and a bait) in the battle that erupts between the Fantastic Four and Galactus even as the mother is determined not to let any harm befall her newborn son. The onus is now on Reed, Sue, Johnny and Ben to balance their individual and familial priorities with an operation that is far larger than themselves because it involves everybody that they share the planet with, people who unquestioningly depend upon them as protectors. The first 20 minutes or so of First Steps are terrific - the film opens with an earth-shattering event - but the sequences that follow the prologue take their own sweet time to deliver the anticipated highs. Not that the film does not ever kick into top gear but it might have done well to weed out the hint of flab that it gathers along the way. Way too much information is doled out via television reports and announcements. Nothing is more gratuitous than one key character holding forth before an impatient mob and enumerating the film's broader themes. But the over-exposition eventually proves to be just a minor irritant. What serves The Fantastic Four: First Steps, directed by Matt Shakman (known especially for directing the TV miniseries WandaVision), best are the actors, who breathe life into the characters even when they do not appear to be etched with the required sharpness. The quartet of Pascal, Kirby, Moss-Bachrach and Quinn are acutely aware of what they need to bring to the table. They lend a sense of seriousness to the proceedings, especially when they are wracked by doubt and even when they engage in banter and exchange wisecracks. Production designer Kasra Farahani imparts to the film the classic aesthetic of the comic books from which the franchise has sprung and then extends the look and tone in a way that enhances the visual texture. The score by Michael Giacchino (Oscar winner for the animation hit Up) injects buoyancy into the film. A few but firm steps for the Fantastic Four may not be a giant leap for the MCU, which is now entering the Sixth and Final phase of the Multiverse Saga. However, First Steps could be counted among the best and boldest of the 37 Marvel films made thus far.
Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Fantastic Four: First Steps doesn't just bring back Marvel's original comic book family — it brings back the fun
For a studio once capable of turning obscure comic-book characters into global billion-dollar phenomena, Marvel has spent the post-Endgame years behaving like a magician who's forgotten how to pull a rabbit out of a hat — and keeps blaming the audience. After a string of bloated sequels, forgettable series, and increasingly tangled timelines, the studio has finally delivered something that feels like… well, a movie. Fantastic Four: First Steps may not reinvent the genre, but it does something arguably more impressive — it makes the superhero film fun again. A still from Fantastic Four: First Steps Directed by Matt Shakman (WandaVision), this much-needed reboot brings Marvel's First Family back to life with a kitschy, retro-futurist twist set in an alternate 1960s New York — a world where the Cold War rages, the Baxter Building glows, and superhero uniforms look suspiciously like blue pajamas. The film stars Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as her fire-happy brother Johnny, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the lovably grumpy Ben Grimm. And unlike past iterations, this one skips the tedious origin story and assumes the audience has at least a Wikipedia-level familiarity with the quartet. A wise choice. The Fantastic Four are already famous when we meet them — beloved by the public, doing variety shows, and fighting off quirky comic-book baddies like Mole Man (Paul Walter Hauser) and the Super-Apes (sadly just name-dropped). They live together in the stylish Baxter Building, where domestic bliss looks like a cross between The Jetsons and a Mad Men-era sitcom. Sue has just discovered she's pregnant — a miracle in any timeline, but especially one where everyone's DNA has been fried by cosmic rays. Reed, ever the scientist, is unsure what powers their child might inherit. Ben, cursed with a rock-like exterior and sensitive soul, longs for a connection with local schoolteacher Rachel (Natasha Lyonne). Meanwhile, Johnny has a spark — pun intended — with the Silver Surfer (a gender-flipped Shalla-Bal, played with chrome-plated intensity by Julia Garner), who arrives bearing a warning: Galactus, the planet-devouring god-thing, is en route. Yes, the world is ending again. But for once, the apocalypse has style. The good The biggest triumph here is tone. Mark's direction leans into the weird, the whimsical, and the genuinely warm — a welcome break from Marvel's recent obsession with existential dread and time travel. The 1960s setting is gorgeously realised, full of neon signs, futuristic kitchen gadgets, and a robot butler named Herbie who doubles as childcare. Pedro Pascal plays Reed with a bemused detachment that works — less tortured genius, more science dad with a stretch problem. Vanessa's Sue is quietly formidable, grounding the film with emotional heft (and looking suspiciously well-rested for a woman about to give birth in space). Joseph nails Johnny's reckless charm, and Ebon's Ben is the soul of the film — a CGI creation with real pathos and a deadpan delivery that hits just right. Michael Giacchino's score gives the film a nostalgic buoyancy, and the production design leans heavily — and successfully — into comic book absurdity. Also: any film where The Thing earnestly reads Dr Spock's Baby and Child Care deserves points for originality alone. The bad Yes, there's a big third-act battle. Yes, another city folds in on itself. No, Marvel still hasn't figured out how to end a movie without throwing buildings at the sky. The gender-swapped Silver Surfer will raise eyebrows among comic-book purists, and her shiny design — somewhere between Terminator 2 and an avant-garde shampoo ad — is more distracting than intimidating. Also, while the film mostly stands on its own, Marvel can't resist teasing future conflicts and characters, and the film occasionally feels like it's winking at sequels we haven't asked for yet. The verdict Fantastic Four: First Steps isn't just Marvel's best reboot in years — it's a reminder that superhero movies can be silly, heartfelt, and self-contained. It's not perfect, and it's not trying to be. But after years of convoluted cinematic calculus, watching a group of mismatched heroes argue in a pastel kitchen while the world teeters on the brink feels oddly refreshing. The film lives up to its subtitle: this is a genuine first step forward. And for Marvel, that's a giant leap back toward what made it great.
