The Big Picture Podcast Summary: "‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Is Here. Plus: Our Fall Film Festival Preview"

Release Date: July 25, 2025 | Host: Sean Fennessy & Amanda Dobbins | The Ringer

1. Fall Film Festival Preview

Venice Film Festival Highlights Sean and Amanda delve into the upcoming fall film festivals, starting with Venice. They discuss a robust slate featuring high-profile world premieres:

• "The Smashing Machine" by Benny Safdie starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
• "Frankenstein" – Guillermo del Toro's adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic.
• "After the Hunt" – A Luca Guadagnino and Julia Roberts collaboration addressing campus sexual assault.
• "Begonia" by Yorgos Lanthimos.
• "A House of Dynamite" – Featuring George Clooney and Adam Sandler, directed by Noah Baumbach.
• "The Testament of Ann Lee" and Jim Jarmusch's "Father, Mother, Sister, Brother" – An anthology film adding to the diverse offerings.

Sean remarks, “...that is a large slate of high-profile releases,” highlighting the festival's significance ([03:01]).

Telluride Film Festival Speculations Transitioning to Telluride, Sean and Amanda speculate on potential premieres based on Venice and TIFF lineups. They anticipate:

• "Hamnet" – Chloe Zhao's latest project.
• "Ballad of a Small Player" – Another Netflix entrant with Edward Berger.
• "Anemone" by Ronan Day Lewis, marking Daniel Day Lewis's return from retirement.

Amanda shares her excitement for live attendees, stating, “I will send emails about it,” indicating active engagement with festival happenings ([14:21]).

Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Insights Sean compares Venice's edition to previous years, noting the absence of major studios like Warner Brothers. He underscores TIFF's unique positioning, mentioning, “Only two best picture winners have ever premiered at TIFF in the last 10 years,” emphasizing its competitive edge ([07:51]).

2. Review of "The Fantastic Four: First Steps"

Introduction to the Film Sean introduces the review by highlighting the film as a significant entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and personal importance as his birthday movie. He provides the basics:

• Director: Matt Shakman
• Cast: Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards), Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm), Eben Moss Bacharach (Johnny Storm), Joseph Quinn (Ben Grimm), Julia Garner (Silver Surfer), Natasha Lyonne, Paul Walter Hauser, and Ralph Inson (voice of Galactus).
• Music: Michael Giacchino
• Cinematography: Jess Hall
• Plot: The Fantastic Four band together to thwart Galactus, a planet-devouring entity threatening Earth828.

Sean notes, “...the Fantastic Four is one of the most legendary crews in Marvel history. This is the fourth feature film adapting the Fantastic Four story. It's the first in the proper MCU,” setting the stage for his critique ([25:07]).

Critical Analysis

• Production Design and CGI: Amanda appreciates the production design but criticizes the CGI, stating, “...it takes what I did think was impressive production design and just, you know, turns it purple for a third of the movie” ([25:46]). Sean echoes concerns about CGI quality and consistency.

• Character Portrayal and Casting:

  • Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal): Both hosts express disappointment with Pascal's portrayal. Amanda remarks, “Pedro Pascal has such natural charisma... it does not allow him to have any of the charm” ([43:31]). Sean concurs, describing Reed as “a stretchy nerd” lacking depth ([26:44]).
  • Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn): While Amanda finds Quinn's performance goofy and out of sync, Sean notes his role as the "detective" lacks the necessary engagement ([46:57]).
  • Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby): Despite strong performance moments, Amanda feels her chemistry with Reed is lacking, questioning their relationship dynamics ([45:51]).

• Narrative and Pacing:

  • The film starts strong with an engaging newsreel montage but loses momentum as it delves into family dynamics, leading to a “general flatness to the drama” as per Sean ([25:53]).
  • They critique the film's attempt to balance a self-contained story with broader MCU implications, resulting in a disjointed narrative ([29:35]).

• Villain Representation:

  • Galactus (Ralph Inson): While visually imposing, both hosts find Galactus's portrayal lacking depth. Amanda points out inconsistencies in his scale and presence, “he's larger than all of the buildings in Manhattan... not insignificant” ([61:43]).
  • Dr. Doom Teaser: The mid-credit scene introduces Dr. Doom, portrayed by Robert Downey Jr., setting up future MCU conflicts. Sean remains skeptical about the buildup, feeling the film doesn't adequately lay the groundwork for this major antagonist ([40:43]).

Notable Quotes:

• Amanda: “I thought the production design was good.” ([25:46])
• Sean: “The whole movie feels like, frankly, a response to shit I've said on podcasts.” ([29:48])
• Amanda: “You're just like, why are you with him? Look at this woman.” ([46:50])
• Sean: “Pilots and magic – it was just one issue of a comic book, and the MCU has been down bad for a long time.” ([74:31])

Conclusion on the Film: Both hosts converge on the sentiment that while "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" has moments of sincerity and homage to classic storytelling, it ultimately falls short in execution. They highlight missed opportunities in character development, narrative coherence, and visual effects, leaving them baffled by the film's lukewarm reception despite its ambitious premise.

3. Summer Stars Segment

Highlighting Breakout Performances: Sean and Amanda shift focus to spotlight standout performances in summer blockbusters:

• Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm): Amanda praises Kirby’s performance, noting her ability to convey emotion through facial expressions and her professionalism on the press tour ([34:21]).

• Florence Pugh and Lewis Pullman in "Thunderbolts": Sean commends their efforts, emphasizing Florence Pugh's essential role and Lewis Pullman's dual performance ([34:32]).

• Alfie Williams (Superman / David Cornswett): Amanda lauds his portrayal as the new Superman, highlighting his natural charisma and effective casting that made him a standout, “He was one of my favorite parts of that movie” ([35:41]).

• Tramell Tillman and Katie O'Brien in "Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning": Both hosts appreciate their electrifying performances during pivotal submarine scenes, with Sean specifically praising Tramell Tillman’s impactful dialogue delivery ([36:00]).

• Jonathan Bailey in "Lilo and Stitch Mixed": Although not Amanda’s preferred star, Sean views Bailey as a promising talent with significant future potential ([36:41]).

• Sidney Agua Dong and Maia Keeloa in "Lilo and Stitch Mixed": Both are recognized for their charming performances, contributing positively to the film's dynamic ([37:10]).

Notable Quotes:

• Amanda: “Mamas are the real superheroes.” ([62:56])
• Sean: “Flora Pugh... has been integral to the success of Thunderbolts.” ([34:32])

4. Additional Insights and Future Outlook

Upcoming MCU Developments: Sean and Amanda touch upon the future of the MCU with hints at major storylines involving Dr. Doom and potential cross-universe conflicts reminiscent of "Secret Wars." They express curiosity and anticipation while also expressing concerns about the clarity and buildup leading to these events.

Sean reflects, “The first Avengers movie since Endgame... what's even on the line here?” conveying uncertainty about the MCU’s direction ([73:06]).

Comparisons to Other Franchises: The hosts compare "The Fantastic Four" to Pixar's "The Incredibles," noting that while both revolve around superhero families, "The Incredibles" achieves a more cohesive and emotionally resonant narrative. Amanda states, “The Incredibles is just like the Fantastic Four, but good,” highlighting the disparity in execution and storytelling ([74:29]).

Audience Reception: Despite personal criticisms, Sean acknowledges that some audiences and critics may find value in the film’s accessible storyline. Amanda shares feedback from a fellow moviegoer, Matt, who also did not enjoy the film, reinforcing their shared perspective ([73:14]).

5. Closing Remarks

Sean wraps up the episode by expressing hope to explore the outcomes of "The Fantastic Four" and its impact on the MCU in future episodes. He teases a forthcoming segment, "25 for 25," hinting at engaging content to come.

Notable Quotes:

• Sean: “It's always fun to go to the movies, too, Amanda.” ([78:32])
• Amanda: “It was fun to go to the movies with you.” ([78:32])

Conclusion

In this episode of The Big Picture, Sean and Amanda provide an insightful preview of the fall film festival landscape while delivering a critical and candid review of "The Fantastic Four: First Steps." Their discussion highlights both the excitement and apprehensions surrounding new MCU entries and emerging film talents. Through their engaging dialogue and thoughtful analysis, they offer listeners a comprehensive overview of current cinematic trends and future industry directions.

Notable Quotes Summary:

• Sean Fennessy:

  • “...that is a large slate of high-profile releases.” ([03:01])
  • “The Fantastic Four is one of the most legendary crews in Marvel history. This is the fourth feature film adapting the Fantastic Four story. It's the first in the proper MCU.” ([25:07])
  • “The whole movie feels like, frankly, a response to shit I've said on podcasts.” ([29:48])
  • “Flora Pugh... has been integral to the success of Thunderbolts.” ([34:32])

• Amanda Dobbins:

  • “I thought the production design was good.” ([25:46])
  • “Pedro Pascal has such natural charisma... it does not allow him to have any of the charm.” ([43:31])
  • “Mamas are the real superheroes.” ([62:56])
  • “The Incredibles is just like the Fantastic Four, but good.” ([74:29])

This summary captures the essence of the podcast episode, focusing on the main content while excluding advertisements and non-essential sections. Notable quotes are integrated with precise timestamps for reference.