The Fantastic Four: First Steps - Solid Sci-Fi with some Superhero mixed in

 


I totally understand if superhero movies aren't your thing (especially with so many forgettable superhero movies in recent years). The Fantastic Four: First Steps is obviously based on comic book superheroes (Marvel's First Family is another name for the group), but in my opinion, the film was more sci-fi than anything else. 

The backdrop is a 1960s retro-futuristic world where the Fantastic Four are not just heroes, but also act as world leaders (they're put on a literal pedestal). Marvel's First Family has to face their biggest challenge yet, once Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) comes to Earth, heralding the space god Galactus (Ralph Ineson), who has targeted the planet for destruction. The Fantastic Four: First Steps seems to draw inspiration from alien invasion and sci-fi epics of old. This film will remind you of a classic like The Incredibles, too. 

The look and feel of how Earth operates are some of the standout aspects of The Fantastic Four: First Steps. A Marvel movie hasn't been this visually appealing in some time (the CGI is a vast improvement over recent entries as well). The scope and scale of Galactus and the threat he poses are conveyed effectively. 

Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) represent three of the four Fantastic Four members who are cast well. The exception is Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal). Pascal is in every movie these days and is good in certain roles, but I just didn't buy him as a character who's the smartest person on Earth. Pascal is fine in the other facets of the character, but I just didn't get super genius from him in the role. Even with the casting mostly being good, you don't get much character depth or emotional investment with the characters. This is the biggest issue with The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The dynamics among Marvel's First Family play out fairly well, and I liked the themes of family and working together, but I still wanted more from them.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a decent movie. It certainly had the potential to be better. It's nice that the runtime is shorter than a typical Marvel film, but a few more minutes likely would have improved the story and characters. You don't have to see a full origin story of the Fantastic Four, which is nice since it's been done on the big screen multiple times, but you do still see a fast-paced telling of their origins in this version. You're thrown into the world quickly, but it's a neat one to be in for two hours. If you're looking for some escapism from a Marvel movie that doesn't require you to watch previous entries, I believe The Fantastic Four: First Steps fits the bill. It's not the most memorable film, but I can appreciate some straightforward and fun sci-fi storytelling, and maybe you will too.

Rating:

Green Light

 See this movie on the big screen if you can

The Fantastic Four: First Steps   115 minutes    PG-13    In theaters

My 2025 Top Movies: The Ballad of Wallis Island, F1 and Not Just a Goof

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