The Fantastic Four: First Steps Review

By Justin D Williams

When it comes to live-action adaptation, the Fantastic Four track record isn't the best. The 1994 Fantastic Four was a very low-budget effort and a poor execution for Marvel's first family. 11 years later, director Tim Story would shoot his shot with Fantastic Four with mixed reviews. He will then put his foot back into the pool with the 2007 critically and comicbook fan panned Rise of the Silver Surfer. Then director Josh Trank put the nail in the coffin with Fantastic Four in 2025. Fast forward ten years, and Marvel and Disney finally have the film rights to Marvel's First Family, and they deliver with The Fantastic Four: First Steps starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Julia Garner, and Ralph Ineson as Galactus.

In The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, and the Thing face their most daunting challenge yet as they defend Earth from Galactus and the Silver Surfer. As a comic book fan, I will admit I was scared when Marvel announced Galactus would be the villain. I immediately thought of that cloud from 2007, but when the images and trailer were shown, my worries vanished, unlike many modern-day superhero films that juggle half a dozen subplots and constant universe-building. First Steps still does a bit of world-building for the overarching phase. However, this story is pretty self-contained, it allows for more character-driven moments, something that Fantastic Four to be developed in this Marvel Universe. The movie is light on the action that fans are used to in superhero films, but the story, the character moments, and the build-up of dread of Galactus with the emotional turmoil of Sue Storm's pregnancy made it worth the price.

The story shines, and that is all thanks to the direction of Matt Shakman. The 1960s retrofuturistic aesthetic gives the most unique identity to the MCU since Captain America: The First Avenger. From the colorful mid-century production design to the Space Race era, the film feels both nostalgic and fresh. The visuals are impressive, especially with Galactus and the Silver Surfer. While CGI is used, it's not distracting and fits nearly perfectly with the world. Another highlight is that the cast is spot on. Pedro Pascal lends Reed Richards charm, but showcases a man who is borderline paranoid and obsessive with his work to keep everyone safe. Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss Bachrach inject energy and humor as Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm. However, the standout is Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm. She is the heart of the film, balancing strength and vulnerability with a performance that grounds the team in a great family drama. Julia Garner also impresses as the Silver Surfer, delivering a performance both menacing and graceful.

The film is not perfect, though some wrinkles could've been ironed out. A longer runtime to give more character development on Ben Grimm and Johnny would've gone a long way. As stated before, the action is a little bit light here, so fans hoping to see Reed do more than extend his arms will be disappointed in the action.

Final Rating: The Fantastic Four: The First Steps isn't the most action-packed entry in the MCU, but to reestablish a franchise that hasn't had a good live-action adaptation, I will say Marvel hit a home run. It's a story with heart and feel-good vibes with a theme of family.

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