First released in 1961 by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, the Fantastic Four has been a staple in Marvel Comics as one of the most iconic superhero teams in comic history. Consisting of Reed Richards as Mr. Fantastic, Susan “Sue” Storm as Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm as The Human Torch, and Ben Grimm as The Thing, the four gained their newfound powers after a space mission gone wrong.
The Marvel team has led to appearances in media that include an animated series, an unofficially released 1994 film, a duology of badly received films from 2004 and 2007, and a disastrous 2015 reboot. Many have deemed the movies as “The Fantastic Four Curse” as it’s been difficult to properly give it a fantastic (pun intended) adaptation of the family. When it was first announced they were getting a fifth attempt at adapting the family, many hoped that this would break the curse, and many are happy to be reassured that it did break the curse. I have to say, the fact that the curse got broken is pretty fantastic!
Taking place in an alternate universe separate from the main MCU timeline, wonderful futuristic retro New York City much like The Jetsons, Fantastic Four: The First Steps follows the team in their fourth year of gaining their newfound powers. Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) and Susan “Sue” Storm (Vanessa Kirby) must navigate together as they are soon to have their first child with the help of Sue’s brother Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) and Reed’s best friend Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach). With the due date fast approaching, they soon get a message from a mysterious silver being named Shalla-Bal (Julia Garner) that the unknown being Galactus (Ralph Ineson) is headed to Earth to destroy the planet. With the team’s most challenging mission, will they be able to save the world from the deadly Galactus?
Like anyone who’s been watching or is aware of the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe), you’d know that each film and television series does tie into the universe, and it can be not only confusing but also overwhelming. So when it was first revealed that First Steps was to take place separately from the main MCU timeline, it felt refreshing to say the least. It felt like a breath of fresh air, knowing that you don’t need to do homework and needing to watch A B and C to understand what’s happening. Director Matt Shakman (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, WandaVision) can be more creative in world building as opposed to referring to the many events that have happened in the main timeline. Not many people are familiar with if they haven’t seen this television show to understand what this movie is and who this person is from this movie that had a bigger role in this television show. Confusing and overwhelming, am I right?
I appreciate the 1960s retro atmosphere and aesthetic that the film goes for and how alive each set piece feels. Growing up, I would watch The Jetsons, and it reminded me a lot about the show and the joy I felt. Much of the aesthetic back during the 1960s felt futuristic with how houses looked, the outfits people wore, cars people would drive, and it felt fitting for The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The set pieces are mesmerizing and every time they showcase a new interior I couldn’t help but be in awe and how well done and neat they are (props to the set design team).
The cast themselves had good chemistry and were able to channel their characters to not only make it their take but also capture what made them so popular in Marvel Comics. Johnny and Ben’s back-and-forth banter got good chuckles out of me, and Reed and Sue’s romantic relationship felt genuine. Although I was skeptical of Pedro Pascal’s casting, the film proved me wrong and ended up being a good casting choice. The standout had to be Joseph Quinn’s Johnny Storm. From his breakout role as Eddie Munson in the Netflix series Stranger Things, it’s great to see Quinn getting the recognition he deserves. It felt like he channelled the inner Eddie Munson to Johnny; with both characters having similar characteristics like humour and charm.
Unfortunately, First Steps isn’t without its flaws. There were instances of poor VFX that took me out of the film. I don’t blame the team working on post-production, and it’s unfortunate that they didn’t have an extended amount of time to fully work on the shot to provide better visuals. And can there be a lesson or course on how to properly use the Virtual Production Wall? A majority of movies have been relying heavily on the Virtual Wall and as previously said in my review of Final Destination Bloodlines, it can be used to an advantage if used properly. Mixed with poor VFX with a noticeable use of the Wall, it took me out of the film. I do however praise the VFX team for their hard work on The Thing and Shalla-Bal. The Thing looked phenomenal. Shalla-Bal you could tell me if Julia Garner wore a practical suit with some post-production to add the reflective look, I would believe you. You can see the strengths in the VFX work, particularly towards the end of the first act.
Story wise, it would have been nice to show more of the team outside of saving the world. You can tell Shakman tried to avoid mistakes in the previous films and while focusing on the team with experience in their fighting days, showcasing what they’re like outside is something I always enjoyed with the comics. For instance, one of the characteristics I like about Ben Grimm is his struggle with his appearance. Ben would long wish that he looked like his former self again and even in the 2004 adaptation they did attempt to portray his hatred of himself as a “rock monster.” There was one instance in the movie that could imply that Ben still has self-esteem issues, but it is never really said.
There’s also a subplot of Ben having a romantic interest with a teacher, but it’s so underdeveloped that it makes you forget quickly that the teacher is in it. Pacing in the first act felt like it went from too fast to slowing down a bit, which feels like they had plans to showcase more of their origins. While the film quickly shows the bits, it felt like the original script showed more than what was filmed.
Fantastic Four: The First Step is a flawed but enjoyable, fun film. It is a first step (pun intended) in the right direction, reintroducing the first family of Marvel back in film. It is a film about family and the choices you make, easy and difficult, and what it means to be a hero to everyone. Much like after watching the new Superman movie, it made me want to reread some classic comics, which is a good thing. It is a universe that you don’t need prior MCU knowledge to understand and can go in if you just want to see the Fantastic Four.
Watch the trailer right here.
All images via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
Directed by Matt Shakman
Screenplay by Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan, Ian Springer, from the comic book series created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Produced by Kevin Feige
Starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Julia Garner, Sarah Niles, Mark Gatiss, Natasha Lyonne, Paul Walter Hauser, Ralph Ineson
Premiere Date: July 21, 2025
Running Time: 114 minutes
Cinema from the Spectrum 
Leave a comment