First Steps Isn’t A Great Movie, But It Is A Great Fantastic Four Story

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Spoilers for The Fantastic Four: First Steps are below!

Summary

  • Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a great FF story, but not a standout MCU film.
  • The film succeeds where past adaptations failed, capturing the family dynamic.
  • Despite flaws like pacing issues and wonky CGI, the movie shines with top-notch casting and retro-futuristic design.

For years and years, enthusiasts of the Fantastic Four have been eagerly anticipating a major-screen portrayal of Marvel’s Original Family that doesn’t feel like a burden to watch. Marvel Studios seemed to be meticulous in introducing the FF into their Cinematic Universe, perhaps because if they didn’t get it right this time, there would be no second chances. This careful approach has led to the success of “The Fantastic Four: First Footsteps” on multiple levels.

To clarify, while The Fantastic Four: First Steps offers much to appreciate, it doesn’t quite rank among the top-tier Marvel Cinematic Universe films. Despite its strengths, it falls short of movies like Iron Man, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and Guardians of the Galaxy. However, what makes it special is that it presents a fantastic Four story, which some might argue is even more significant.

The Fantastic Four Have Had A Rough Go Of It On The Big Screen

It Hasn’t Been Easy Going For Marvel’s First Family

It’s hard to overstate the importance of the Fantastic Four, who made their debut in 1961’s Marvel Comics #1, as they laid the groundwork for the entire Marvel Universe. Although their fame has fluctuated over the years, there’s no denying their success, as evidenced by the four animated adaptations they’ve had—the same number as both the X-Men and the Avengers, trailing only Spider-Man.

Alongside multiple attempts at big-screen adaptations, both successful and unsuccessful, the team has been portrayed in various films over time. The initial film to depict them was 1994’s “Fantastic Four,” a movie initially intended only for test screenings. The second adaptation arrived in 2005 as another “Fantastic Four” production, which garnered moderate box office returns but mixed critical reception. Its sequel, “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer” in 2007, faced a similar fate, and 20th Century Fox reconsidered their approach. However, their subsequent attempt in 2015, “Fantastic Four,” was generally panned as a disappointing production.

2025’s version of The Fantastic Four: First Steps was expected to succeed given the previous attempts were either mediocre or failed outright. Fortunately, this adaptation appears to be well-received by audiences and is generally well-regarded, despite a couple of issues that diminish its shine slightly.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps Is A Good Movie, But Not A Great One

At This Point, We’ll Take What We Can Get

One can’t help but appreciate numerous appealing aspects of “The Fantastic Four: First Steps“. The vintage-forward visual effects are impeccable, the employment of tangible sets distinguishes it among a predominantly digital Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Michael Giacchino’s soundtrack is simply brilliant. As always, casting director Sarah Halley Finn does an exceptional job with the cast. Vanessa Kirby as Sue and Joseph Quinn as Johnny are particularly noteworthy, but Pedro Pascal excels in portraying Reed’s intellect, Ebon Moss-Bachrach effectively embodies Ben, Julia Garner aptly conveys Shalla-Bal’s subdued sorrow, and Ralph Ineson delivers an almost filmic incarnation of Galactus. Even Paul Walter Hauser impressively performs in limited screen time as the Mole Man.

Without a doubt, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” isn’t a flawless film; quite the contrary. Despite Vanessa Kirby’s assertion that real infants were on set for Franklin Richards, there’s no denying that some CGI related to babies exhibits a striking resemblance to the uncanny valley. Granted, working with babies is notoriously challenging, but the film’s pacing issues are harder to ignore. Many critics have pointed out that the movie’s brief 114-minute runtime works against it, and it’s tough to disagree. It seems as though 20–30 minutes were missing from the final edit.

In the movie, Natasha Lyonne’s character Rachel Rozman, who seemed like Ben Grimm’s love interest, barely appears, and John Malkovich’s Red Ghost was removed entirely. While Reed, Sue, and Johnny have significant roles throughout the film, Ben seems to be underrepresented. It’s possible that the creative team behind the 2000s Fantastic Four films, which generally treated The Thing well, felt that they had given too much focus to Ben Grimm previously and decided to dial it back.

Is it not astonishing how Reed Richards, who’s famed for his intelligence, devises such a seemingly straightforward scheme to ensnare Galactus at the movie’s end? The idea of utilizing Franklin as an attractant and transporting Galactus to the outskirts of the cosmos through a particular location in Times Square seems very reminiscent of the Silver Age. Yet, isn’t it surprising that Reed Richards, known as the world’s smartest man, couldn’t devise something more sophisticated for such an imposing adversary?

Most Importantly, The Fantastic Four: First Steps Feels Like A Classic FF Story

That Is More Than You Can Say About The Other Films

The 2000s Fantastic Four movies and the 2015 film failed to capture the essence of authentic FF movies because the supergroup lacked the warmth and camaraderie typically associated with a family. Instead, it seemed that modernizing the story took precedence over portraying genuine affection among the team members. Sue Storm, who has traditionally been the emotional core of the Fantastic Four, didn’t feel as central in the Fox films. This isn’t meant as a criticism of Jessica Alba or Kate Mara; both are talented actresses who delivered strong performances despite the material they were provided.

In the movies from the 2000s featuring Reed and Sue, marriage isn’t depicted until late in the second film. The 2015 version of Fantastic Four introduces the team as individuals who don’t know each other initially. Contrastingly, in First Steps, the members of the Fantastic Four have been working together as heroes for a significant amount of time and share a strong bond that feels genuine when they interact.

This production, titled “The Fantastic Four: First Steps“, exudes a lively and faithful-to-comics vibe. Jack Kirby’s impact is palpable on the screen. The narrative maintains an optimistic tone that is characteristic of the Fantastic Four series, despite being a story about the apocalypse. Granted, it may not be an exceptional movie, but as a compelling Fantastic Four tale, it more than delivers on its promise.

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2025-07-28 00:25