Review: ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Is a Fresh Start for the MCU

For the past two decades, Marvel’s First Family, the Fantastic Four, have been plagued by adaptations that never quite captured the heart and cosmic grandeur of their comic book origins. 

Fans, including me, have endured everything from the infamously “lost” 1994 low-budget attempt (which was rightfully unreleased, judging by the clips floating around online) and Tim Story’s earnest but often self-parodying outings in 2005 and 2007 to the disaster of the 2015 reboot. We’ve been hanging by a thread here, and have almost given up hope on seeing our super quartet in a faithful and genuinely fantastic film…but wait, say that again?

With the arrival of Marvel Studios’ First Steps, we might actually have a film that, at long last, gives Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben the cinematic redemption they (and we!) have always deserved. 

I had the opportunity to watch the movie in the lush Maybank Comfort Cabin located at The Exchange TRX’s Aurum Theatre. Between relaxing in the soft leather recliner seats, indulging in hot meals being served right to my table and watching the action play out on screen, I was in cinema paradise—a highly recommended experience! Without further ado, read about what I thought of Fantastic Four: First Steps in my review below. 

PLOT

We kick off the movie in medias res, four years into the Fantastic Four’s new position as the planet’s protectors after being hit with a DNA-altering cosmic storm. Director Matt Shakman skips over the origin story spiel we’ve seen time and time again—a decision we’ve similarly seen in James Gunn’s Superman. 

But rather than a block of text as exposition, First Steps opens with a 30-minute sizzle reel of what our central foursome has been up to since that faithful day in space. 

It’s an exhilarating montage where we see our heroes defeating villains (several vintage comic book nods abound), posing for magazine covers, and speaking at world forums. Firefighters, police officers, and children all love and adore them. All is well in this 1960s utopia of New York on Earth 828. 

The happy bubble is popped when the Silver Surfer shows up, announcing that the ravenous cosmic god, Galactus, will soon gobble up their planet. Despite the all-consuming threat, everyone leaves it in the good hands of our super quartet. It’s the greatest villain they (and the MCU, in general) have ever faced, and they have to put their biggest thinking caps on to find a solution fast.

Paralleling Galactus’ arrival is Franklin Richards, Reed and Sue’s first child, whom they’re expecting after two years of trying. Their excitement, as well as anxiety about how Franklin will turn out due to their altered DNA, is where most of the emotional groundwork is laid. Director Matt Shakman balances out the action with heartfelt scenes, so you never lose sight of what the film is truly about: family (somewhere, Dominic Toretto just teared up). 

Having said that, Fantastic Four: First Steps has been cut down to the bone with the type of precision and efficiency that Reed would be proud of. With a runtime of just under two hours, every scene has a clear purpose. This editing ensures the plot has momentum and is constantly being propelled forward rather than slogging along, but it also results in pacing that is frazzled and schizophrenic at times. 

In a landscape of bloated and padded runtimes in the MCU machine, First Steps is an anomaly because it would have benefited from an extra 20 minutes—something I never thought I would say about a recent Marvel film.

Nonetheless, it’s not a plot that you would be confused going into if you haven’t kept up with every film and TV show since the introduction of the multiverse. This can feel like a chore (and honestly, we don’t blame you), especially when the extended cinematic universe gets more convoluted each time. Fortunately, First Steps features a more intimate, self-contained plot where even casual Marvel fans can make sense of what’s happening. 

As the official launch of Phase Six for the MCU, First Steps does a great job of planting narrative seeds, building towards the Russo brothers’ next Avengers films and leading the studio into a direction on a cosmic scale we’ve never seen before since Thanos. 

CHARACTERS

Another thing that Shakman has going for him is a top-billed cast that brings the calibre and gravitas to the screen. From Sunday dinners to quippy banter, their chemistry as a family is palpable and natural. Seeing the Fantastic Four finally being done justice on the big screen proves that some things are worth the wait. 

Pedro Pascal shines as Reed Richards, AKA Mr. Fantastic, a brilliant yet anxiety-ridden scientist burdened by his own genius. His true superpower lies in his brain, and he takes it upon himself to fix their Galactus-sized problem. I know Pascal Fatigue is becoming a thing, but there’s no denying that the man is an incredible actor. Pascal effortlessly plays the part of the practical savant and sensitive father, showing much more interiority to Reed compared to previous incarnations.

For those who read leaks online about how Sue would be taking more of a lead, you can rest assured that Mr. Fantastic is still clearly the leader of the foursome. He’s constantly inventing something new (“You babyproofed the world?” Ben exclaimed) and comes up with some innovative solutions (save for one questionable plan in the third act). If I could nitpick about something, I wish I had seen more of how Reed would cleverly use his stretching abilities as well.

Vanessa Kirby owns the role of Sue Storm, AKA Invisible Woman. She was my personal fan cast, so no complaints here! She’s the matriarch and glue that keeps everyone together. Previous iterations of Sue always saw her through a male gaze-y lens. 

In First Steps, she’s a respectable world leader and orator who leaves everyone she touches feeling like they’re part of her family. Kirby’s performance in the third act is one of my favourites in recent Marvel memory. Hell hath no fury like a mother trying to protect her baby from a giant cosmic god!

The biggest surprise is Joseph Quinn’s portrayal of Johnny Storm. In First Steps, the Human Torch is fleshed out beyond just being a playboy himbo. You can make a clear case of nepotism in the 2005 and 2007 versions, but in this film, Johnny shows exactly why he has earned a spot as an astronaut next to Reed. He’s intelligent, resourceful, and selfless. With his curious dynamic with the Silver Surfer, Johnny gets a ton of screentime to show off his charm and wit. 

The one who got the hardest task, in my opinion, is Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm. He has to convey emotion while completely clad in motion capture gear, and for the most part, he absolutely does. Because we’re four years in, we don’t get to see the identity crisis and resentment from Ben that comes from being turned into a walking rock. Instead, we get a more self-assured version of The Thing who’s softer around the edges, playful, and less quick to anger. 

However, he suffers the most from the film’s editing, and most of his solo scenes have been cut out. This results in little to no characterisation for him. Even his action sequences left more to be desired—we want real clobbering, not some measly punches! First Steps would have felt more complete if it had given each member an equal amount of screen time to shine.

Then, there’s the sweet summer child, Franklin Richards. For comic book fans, this is a long time coming as his arrival means many things for the MCU moving forward. He’s regarded as one of the strongest Marvel characters, with the ability to bend reality itself, amongst others. Marvel Studios tends to nerf the live-action counterparts, which we’ve already seen with Scarlet Witch and Doctor Strange. It’ll be interesting to see how they manage the power scaling of these characters in Phase Six and beyond.

Apart from our superheroes, First Steps delivers something recent Marvel offerings have failed in: a memorable villain. It can be hard to translate a planet-eating cosmic entity who can reach up to 1,000 feet tall well in live action (see: 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer), but First Steps absolutely impressed with Galactus. 

British actor Ralph Ineson, whose accolade includes The Green Knight and Nosferatu, casts an epic mix of gravitas, terror, and genuine dread to the Devourer of Worlds. He doesn’t appear much, but when he does, we watch with bated breath. For die-hard fans, the third act showdown might ruffle some feathers. But for the most part, he’s treated with the reverence and respect he demands. 

And then, there’s the most controversial figure in First Steps. All hell broke loose when it was first revealed that the Silver Surfer would be gender swapped. But make no mistake, you’ll be convinced of Julia Garner’s performance if her viral ‘herald’ speech didn’t already. She’s an absolute presence on screen, so it’s a shame that her arc has not been as well developed or written as the rest. 

VISUALS

One thing I’m sure everyone will agree on is that Fantastic Four: First Steps looks incredible. The 1960s retrofuturist aesthetic is delightfully stunning and gives the film a distinct look and feel unlike any other Marvel movie. 

Reminiscent of The Jetsons, production designer Kasra Farahani (who previously worked on Loki) brilliantly created this space-age quality to life, from the flying Fantasticar and Herbie the robot to the sumptuous midcentury furnishings we’re instantly adding to our Pinterest board. All the vibrant colours and set designs are highlighted in IMAX in the best way possible. 

The CGI is great in some scenes and not so in others. Sue and Johnny look the best using their superpowers, but Reed and Ben often enter the territory of playdough-looking quality, especially when they start moving around and everything starts to look wonky.

And don’t get me started about CGI baby Franklin. I’ve had it up to *here* with uncanny, goofy-looking CGI babies and for a multi-billion dollar company to be pulling this in the big 2025 is inexcusable. 

On the other hand, Galactus and the Silver Surfer looked the most impressive. Shalla-Bal’s chromatic look is clean and polished, arriving on Earth to deliver the bad news while serving face at the same time. Meanwhile, Galactus’ character design, from his glowing eyes to his horned helmet, is imposing and comic-book accurate.

While First Steps isn’t as heavy on the action compared to previous films, you’ll still be on the edge of your seat when it’s there. In particular, a scene between the Fantastic Four and the Silver Surfer in deep space with a black hole in the background is one of the best galactic action sequences we’ve seen since Interstellar.

FINAL VERDICT

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is just what we need to herald Phase Six of the MCU. Fans have grown restless and tired of Marvel’s recent offerings (as it turns out, scale and nostalgia are not enough to impress us anymore). Among the feel-bad slogs, First Steps is a definitively feel-good summer blockbuster full of style, substance, and the right beats of humour. 

Sure, it’s not perfect, and there’s uncertainty about whether this film is enough build-up to immediately go into Avengers: Doomsday compared to 10 years of planning for Thanos and the Infinity Stones. Judging from the film alone, it’s a welcome return to form. Only time will tell if this is a one-off fluke.

Rating: 8/10

For more film reviews, head here.