The Fantastic Four: First Steps Review – Marvel’s First Family Finally Done Right

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Release Date: 2025-07-25

Director: Matt Shakman

Initially, when the Marvel Cinematic Universe was just starting out, major characters such as Spider-Man and X-Men had their film rights owned by Sony and Fox respectively. This resulted in an empire of media primarily focusing on Iron Man, a character who, thanks to Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal, became more iconic than he ever was before. Fans experienced frustration as Marvel constructed a universe where some of their most cherished figures were confined to other companies’ universes, preventing them from interacting with characters they often encountered together in the comics.

Although Sony’s “Spider-Man” and Fox’s “X-Men” films under Sam Raimi and Bryan Singer respectively were well received, moviegoers never experienced a Fantastic Four film that matched their excitement. While Fox’s initial two attempts, along with the much less successful third one, had their own qualities, they didn’t quite deliver the expected impact. It’s best not to dwell on the 1994 version of Fantastic Four that was never released.

The Fantastic Four: Initial Journey

The movie isn’t groundbreaking or revolutionary in the traditional sense, but it’s fun, sincere, honest, and mostly unafraid to showcase its comic-book roots. Is it possible that Kevin Feige had a hand in guiding James Gunn’s approach to “Superman”?

The First Family has an outing not unlike that of the first superhero this summer

Despite naysayers predicting the demise of the superhero movie genre this summer, both DC’s pioneer hero, Superman, and Marvel’s initial heroes, the Fantastic Four, have jointly countered the criticism by making comparable adjustments to old storylines. James Gunn’s “Superman” has faced criticism for certain creative choices regarding the new DCU’s intricate backstory, but its overall mood and spot-on character development have silenced those complaints. Similarly, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” shares many similarities with this endeavor.

Following the aesthetic blend of “Kirby and Kubrick” as a creative compass, Wandavision’s director Matt Shakman, in collaboration with his cinematographer Jess Hall, filmed most scenes in a 1.85 aspect ratio, which can be displayed in 1.90 for IMAX, similar to what Gunn and DP Henry Braham did for Big Blue. This approach yields striking and bold visuals that evoke comic book panels rather than many recent releases. While the action may not be as avant-garde or unique, it is engagingly presented and strategically arranged. Moreover, the soundtrack complements the visuals perfectly, featuring an outstanding score by Michael Giacchino.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe multiverse, Earth 828, named after Jack Kirby’s birthday, offers an alternate history with a 1960s-inspired retro-futuristic setting. This world features computers with analog and tape-deck aesthetics, and spacecraft reminiscent of early NASA rockets from the covers of sci-fi paperbacks. The atmosphere mirrors James Gunn’s approach in “Superman,” albeit without discarding their origin story. Instead, the film swiftly shows how Reed (Pedro Pascal), Sue (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny (Joseph Quinn), and Ben (Ebon Moss-Bacharach) transition from astronauts to superheroes via an in-universe documentary. The movie is concise, running for approximately two hours, despite a noticeable trimming of content due to test screenings, much like “Superman.

In terms of structure, the story’s central plotline – featuring heroes well into their career, invincible and admired by all, until a fresh challenge emerges to push them to their limits and sway public opinion – has similarities with Superman’s tale. However, unlike the Fantastic Four’s usual adversary, Galactus, portrayed by Ralph Ineson in this instance, is not a cosmic storm or nanobots but rather a real person. The title’s “first steps” could refer to both Galactus’ initial footprints on New York City ground as well as the impending birth of Franklin, Reed and Sue’s first child, who serves as an important human artifact that Galactus covets more than Earth itself. Ultimately, it’s the main characters that make this film stand out.

Meet the family

Just as David Corenswet plays an exceptional Superman for today’s audience, the cast portraying the Fantastic Four flawlessly embody their characters, showing outstanding chemistry among the four members.

Pedro Pascal’s portrayal of Reed in the series slightly enhances the charm compared to the character on paper, as the actor’s natural charisma can’t entirely be concealed by acting skills. However, he effectively embodies essential aspects of Reed, such as his isolation-inducing brilliance, guilt over transforming loved ones into monsters, and unyielding devotion that outweighs it all. Additionally, Pascal physically transformed for the role, making Ben a muscular version of Cousin Richie, though not exactly like viewers of “The Bear” might have initially imagined. In the film, his character Ben is endearing, humorous, and serves as the bond that keeps the family united. While Ebon Moss-Bacharach’s interpretation of Ben as a rock-covered Cousin Richie wasn’t far from the truth, seeing it within the context of the movie makes it an ideal fit for the storyline. In essence, Pascal’s portrayal of Ben is affectionate, amusing, and crucial in maintaining family cohesion.

Joseph Quinn’s portrayal of Johnny in the announced cast initially seemed out of place, but his performance exceeded expectations. While his acting wasn’t as natural or inspiring as Chris Evans or Michael B. Jordan were with their roles, there was an endearing vulnerability to his character that was difficult not to appreciate. However, it is Vanessa Kirby who truly shines as Sue. She manages to convey the depth, roughness, and adaptability of the Fantastic Four’s true powerhouse in a screen adaptation better than one might expect.

Among the relationships portrayed, two of them resonate strongly: Reed and Ben’s friendship, Ben and Johnny’s playful rivalry, Reed and Sue’s bond, and Sue and Johnny as siblings. Everything fits together remarkably well in this film. However, one could argue that the movie’s potential weakness lies in the absence of a character who is crucial to the Fantastic Four lore. The choice to cast Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom seems more like a last-ditch effort to make him a larger-than-life villain for an event movie, rather than an integral part of the Fantastic Four team’s storyline.

In “Avengers: Doomsday,” these characters will clash, but given that filming has been ongoing for a month without a completed script, it seems improbable that it will be as skillfully crafted as this one. Enjoy “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” while you can before they become entangled in the chaotic ensemble, and hope for a better follow-up once rumored timeline resets post-“Avengers: Secret Wars.

“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” hits theaters on July 25. 

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2025-07-22 19:00