After what seems like an eternity, Marvel's first family FINALLY has a movie that does them justice. Fantastic Four First Steps brings Jack Kirby style and Stan Lee's characters to life in a family-centered, fun, and an exciting way.
Fantastic Four First Steps Review
Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben made their Marvel Comics debut in 1961. Since then there have been cartoons, an unreleased film, and of course the Fox universe offerings. Both Tim Story’s 2005 Fantastic Four films and Josh Trank’s 2015 reboot told the story of how this family got their powers with Story's also attempting to showcase Galactus, aka the Devourer of Worlds. I didn't dislike the 2005 origin film. I was entertained, I mostly liked the casting, and overall it wasn't perfect but it wasn't awful either. But it definitely lacked not only creator Jack Kirby's touch but also just the spark that makes this team one people want to see. No comment on the 2015 attempt. Needless to say, Marvel's first family has been long overdue for a proper story.
Director Matt Shakman (WandaVision) along with co-writers Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan, and Ian Springer went back to where it all started. With the comics as their guide, this team has finally delivered a Fantastic Four movie that gets it right. The entire cast, including the one I was most skeptical about, is amazing. Each anchors the story in their own way, with Sue being the ultimate MVP. Galactus looks awesome, the stuff comic fans' dreams are made of, as do their powers and the retro-futuristic world they live in. It's fun, exciting, and full of family-centered goodness. And I mean that as a compliment. It's never cheesy, just genuine.
Although it is technically an origin story (since they are new to the MCU), First Steps skips over the long, drawn-out exposition dump of how they got their powers and instead wraps that up in an in-universe TV special commemorating 4 years of the Fantastic Four. They've been busy in those years, fighting classic Silver Age villains like Diablo and Mole Man (the scene-stealing Paul Walter Hauser), creating the Future Foundation, aiming for world peace, and scientific advancements. But now, the smartest man alive is about to be out of his depth. Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal) and Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby) are expecting their first baby, Franklin Richards. Everyone including H.E.R.B.I.E., Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) are busy getting the Baxter Building baby-proofed until Shalla-Bal/Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) arrives, heralding the coming of Galactus (Ralph Ineson). Now they need to figure out how to stop this new threat before he completely destroys their world.
In terms of plot, Fantastic Four is fairly straight forward. There aren't overly complicated logistics to figure out or a third act twist that will send everything into chaos. Even when Reed begins to ramble, writing out scientific equations that are above my pay grade, he inevitably stops and either explains it in simpler terms or asks the class if they want to see an explosion. Yes, yes we do. Even Galactus' motives are refreshingly simplistic – not that I dislike the more complex nature of say the High Evolutionary, but sometimes it's nice to have a bad guy just be a bad guy because he's a bad guy. Galactus eats planets because he has a hunger that must be satisfied. He wants to rest but the only way to do that is to find a being capable of taking on his mantle. Enter baby Franklin who, in case you don't know the comics, is far more powerful than he seems.
Fantastic Four not only builds out a beautiful world on its home planet but also delivers some awe-inspiring cosmic visuals like we haven't seen before, save for maybe Guardians of the Galaxy. Not only does Shakman and team get the family right, but they also give us a Galactus worthy of the name. Everything from his lair to the design of his armor and body exude malice. Ineson was without a doubt the right man for this role. His voice elevates Galactus' look for a villain who truly is the definition of intimidating. Michael Giacchino’s score only increases the intensity of these moments, making your heart race as these four attempt to stop the unstoppable. Giacchino always impresses and this time around is no different. The music will also remind you of another superfamily he wrote for, The Incredibles. Side note: yes, this film feels like a live-action Incredibles at times, but remember the Pixar movie drew inspiration from the Fantastic Four, not the other way around as I saw some saying online.
Ok, this is the one time I'm going to use the word everyone has been using… the cast is truly fantastic. They sell the tight-knit family bond with ease, allowing the relationships that have built in the years before we meet them to shine through, no matter how big or small the moment may be. Pascal and Kirby are the cornerstones of the Fantastic Four, but Quinn and Moss-Bachrach are equally as important to the overall dynamic. Reed is a notoriously hard character to get right. His intellect sometimes prevents him from understanding basic human emotions, which can be a turnoff to many audience members. Pascal brings depth, warmth, and a calculating brilliance to Reed that we haven't seen before. His anxieties about the world (even before he finds out he is going to be a dad), fascination with creating new advancements, and his love for his family all play a key role in one of Marvel's most complex heroes.
Kirby is the MVP of the movie, delivering an impassioned speech to rally the Earth while also holding her family together as everything threatens to tear them apart. She is a determined leader, a fearless teammate, and a mother who will do anything for her child and her friends. She is the light in the darkest moments for Reed as well as this story. Their chemistry is solid as it is with the rest of the family. As for the others, I was skeptical about Quinn's casting, but he won me over within the first few minutes he was on screen. He and Moss-Bachrach are given slightly less to do, but they each have their moment to stand in the spotlight. The two bring humor and plenty of heart to the film.
One of the things a lot of people were concerned about was how their powers would look on screen, specifically Reed's stretching abilities. After Ms. Marvel took a different approach to her abilities which are similar to Reed's, no one was sure what to expect. I'm happy to report they look great in the film, so does Johnny's flames, Ben's rock body (and beard), Sue's force fields and her invisibility abilities. The Thing holding baby Franklin is something I didn't know I needed but it is the cutest thing ever. Garner's Silver Surfer also looks sleek, a silver molten suit that reflects in ways that are stunning.
Verdict
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a Fantastic 4 movie that FINALLY gets it right. Kirby, Pascal, Quinn, Moss-Bachrach, and Ineson are perfectly cast. Marvel's first family has never looked so good. Their unique powers make for some inventive and entertaining fight sequences. Galactus is as awe-inspiring and dangerous as he should be, something that was lacking severely in the previous outing for the character. There are easter eggs but necessarily for the MCU at large, after all this film takes place on an entirely different Earth. However, there are nods and loving touches scattered throughout that honor Kirby's work and the comics these heroes hail from. This is one of the best origin stories (if you can call it that) in the MCU to date and I cannot wait to see these characters again in Avengers: Doomsday.
The Fantastic Four First Steps is in theaters July 25, 2025. It is rated PG-13 for action/violence and some language. with a runtime of 1 hour 55 minutes.
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