Fantastic Four: First Steps

 

There’s a joke amongst comic fans that the only good Fantastic Four movie is an Incredibles movie. Fox tried four different times to make enjoyable movies based on

Marvel’s First Family, and although I do have a bit of a soft spot for the campy Tim Story films of 2005 and 2007 none of the attempts really captured the essence of the Fantastic Four, something that Pixar’s The Incredibles did quite effortlessly: They may be superheroes, but they are a family first. Ten years and one multi-billion-dollar acquisition later, it might finally be time to put that tired joke to rest, as Marvel Studios’ Fantastic Four: First Steps not only nails the family dynamic but also proves to be one of the best MCU films since Avengers: Endgame.

If you have seen a trailer or poster for the film you know that it utilizes a really cool retro[1]-futuristic aesthetic, much like the Tomorrowland areas in various Disney parks. This instantly gives First Steps a buttload of charm, and it also gets points for never using this visual flair as a crutch. No, it's got other things going for it as well, not the least of which is the chemistry between our four leads and the earnestness of the script. Like the latest Superman film, Fantastic Four: First Steps embraces its comic book roots by being unrepentantly outlandish and embracing simple messages of good triumphing over, well, everything.

Every one of the Four gets a nice little character moment or two, even if the villain is fairly one-[1]dimensional. This is true to the comics, where Galactus is less of a character and more of a force of nature, but what he lacks in motivation he makes up for in menace. The stakes in First Steps feel high, and it makes the lighter moments feel all the better for it. Overall it's one of the most balanced MCU films when it comes to tone, which is a relief in a universe that often veers more towards quippy comedy than drama. 

And speaking of the overall Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole, one of the best parts of Fantastic Four: First Steps is how self-contained it is. You don't need to remember a person that showed up once five movies ago, nor do you need to see some random show on Disney+ to understand the special context of a two-minute scene. Everything you need to enjoy First Steps is in First Steps, and enjoy it you probably will. 

Fantastic Four: First Steps is now playing in theaters.

Duck Soup (1933) Mini Review

 

              I did not expect a comedy from 1933 to be this effective in 2025.

              Duck Soup is considered by some to be the quintessential Marx Brothers film, and in the name of cultural literacy I tuned in to see what the nearly century-old fuss was about. While some of the jokes landed flat or just didn’t translate across the gulf of time it didn’t really matter, as there are just so many of them per minute. Groucho and Chico rarely shut up, Harpo has barely any screentime where he isn’t acting like the most caffeinated clown in history, and I suppose Zippo was somewhere in there as well, at least according to the opening credits. There is a reason Groucho is often considered to be the best of them, as his mile-a-minute wordplay (which I imagine must be an absolute nightmare for someone who speaks English as a second language) has undoubtedly aged the best, whereas the physical comedy of Harpo didn’t really appeal much to me (I guess he liked cutting stuff with scissors and bullying lemonade salesmen and everyone thought that was funny for some reason?) and Chico sometimes came off as a poor man’s Groucho. There is also a singular racist joke that wouldn’t fly in the late twentieth century let alone today, but honestly I’m just glad that it was just the one. This is the 1930s we’re talking about, after all.  

The film is truly anarchic, and I’m not just referring to the brothers themselves. It eschews logic, it eschews plot. It is as poorly paced as my eating schedule on Thanksgiving Day. But ultimately it doesn’t matter, as all of that stuff is just window dressing for the jokes, and the jokes work, even ninety-two years later.  And who can beat that just-over-an-hour runtime?

Superman (2025)

 

That Superman sure is nice guy, isn’t he? This primary characteristic of the Last Son of Krypton has been out of focus in the last decade or so as Hollywood had tried to cast him as a darker hero more in the vein of his Gotham City compatriot, but if the newest Superman film does anything it reminds us that Big Blue wants to help us, from the biggest alien invader to the smallest squirrel. It proudly wears its comic book heritage on its sleeve, and though its unironic earnestness sometimes slips into corny territory it mostly makes for a fun, if simple, viewing experience.

It's David Corenswet’s turn in the cape, and his broad shoulders wear it well. In Superman the titular hero’s brand of simple altruism is tested when geopolitical realities enter the picture and the realities of life conflict with his ideals. But the film's ultimate optimism is never in doubt, nor is the inherent goodness of the character. But as good as Corenswet is, it is Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, House of Cards) as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor that steel the show (“steel” as in “Man of Steel?” Never mind), each embodying their characters perfectly with pure electricity. There have been a couple of good to great Superman films over the years, and Christopher Reeve will forever embody the character for most people including myself, but this is the first time it has ever felt like I was actually watching a Superman comic in movie form, and it is largely thanks to pitch perfect casting and acting.

Another big part of the appeal is the unashamed silliness of some of the concepts. Krypto the Superdog is in this movie, and his mere presence shows that Superman is not afraid of its often goofy heritage. I for one loved this unabashed embracing of what makes comic books so unique, but there is no doubting that Superman occasionally goes over the line and dips into campy territory. Again, this wasn’t a problem for me and it won’t be a problem for a lot of people, but others I can see rolling their eyes.

It's not the most complex film, and the real-life parallels are a bit clumsy and obvious, but any film that celebrates kindness in our turbulent age while still managing to be loads of fun is welcome in my book. Superman is the first entry in what Warner Bros./DC Studios promises to be a sprawling new connected movie-verse, but even if you’re tired of them at this point it’s still worth checking this one out.

Superman is now playing in theaters.