This summer is a busy one for superhero movies and I have to admit, X-Men: First Class was probably the one I was least excited for. Coming off of two quite terrible entries into the series (the lacking X-Men 3: The Last Stand and the totally insipid X-Men Origins: Wolverine), I had lost all enthusiasm for a fifth movie. However, with Matthew Vaughn (fresh off of another superhero adaptation, Kick-Ass) in the director’s chair and a cast chock full of great actors, this prequel works marvelously and could be the best X-Men film yet. The story follows Professor X (played by James McAvoy) and Magneto (Michael Fassbender) as they befriend one another and form what will become Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters in the 60’s, only to turn against one another later on.
What makes First Class among the better superhero flicks recently is its amazing cast. McAvoy and Fassbender completely own their roles, and however farfetched the on-screen action may get, those guys have a way of grounding the film in reality; you will believe without doubt that a man can lift a submarine out of the water using only his mind and an extended hand. Also starring as a part of a mutant love triangle between the two is Jennifer Lawrence (recent Academy-Award nominee for Winter’s Bone and future Katniss in The Hunger Games) who plays the blue shape shifter Mystique, not entirely sure which side she belongs to (the MLK humans-mutants peace side or the Malcolm X “mutant power” side). Playing the villain Sebastian Shaw is Kevin Bacon, who actually speaks German in this film - and well! Other notables include Rose Byrne (Bridesmaids, Insidious), Oliver Platt (West Wing) and January Jones (Mad Men).
The biggest problem I had with the film was that it simply had too many characters. There’s one scene where all the mutants are gathered in a room and are giving nicknames to each other; watching this it’s clear the writers had difficulty trying to fit individual character introductions throughout the script, and this scene feels strange and forced. There are quite a few mutants we don’t get to know well enough, and some of their powers are kind of lame (one kid, Banshee, flies using some weird sonar thing that I couldn’t buy into). Even Kevin Bacon, who does a great job with the material, does not seem as big a threat in the film as he really should.
It was interesting how the movie tied in with historical events (the Holocaust and Cuban missile crisis in this case) and the 60’s vibe brought on a certain tone that harkens to old James Bond flicks. The special effects were also handled really well. Aside from Beast’s mouth not operating in complete conjunction with his words, I have no real complaints. Also, the costumes were not garish or unrealistic (as opposed to this year’s Thor) and were kept to a minimum. Overall, X-Men: First Class is a juggernaut of entertainment. Though I do have to say the trailer for this movie gives many of the biggest moments away, so avoid it if you can.
Rating: B
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