The Fantastic Four: First Steps Review: Cool, Cosmic, and Mostly Works

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After watching “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”, I must say that, consistent with my remarks in the post-movie video, I generally enjoyed the film.

I really enjoyed the music, the actors were great, the plot was decent, and the special effects, truthfully, are some of the best Marvel has produced in a long time.

The experience was not as anticipated, with elements that were positively and negatively surprising, as you’ll see later on. Additionally, it delved deeper into hardcore science fiction than I had imagined, a trait I admire.

Before we delve into our discussion, let me express my concern that Marvel seemingly unveiled the entire film through trailers, TV spots, and sneak peeks. I attempted to steer clear of marketing materials during the final weeks, but alas, social media is what it is. Regrettably, there were no real surprises left in the movie.

It appears that ticket sales for The Fantastic Four: First Steps haven’t been particularly robust, and when this happens, Hollywood tends to respond by releasing additional content online. However, I believe this is a misstep. If all the material is available before the movie premieres, there will be little left to discuss or generate excitement about. This sentiment holds true for The Fantastic Four: First Steps as well.

Additionally, you can rest easy knowing that “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” isn’t overly political, with the exception of the gender-swapped Silver Surfer character. To be fair, she doesn’t belittle or undermine her male counterparts, and I must admit, I found her acceptable. Sue Storm is incredibly powerful, and Reed Richards is portrayed as somewhat submissive by Pedro Pascal, but this aspect seems to have been significantly reduced in the final cut. The most surprising element? Johnny Storm is depicted more favorably and coolly than suggested in any of the previews.

Note: Spoilers follow.

In some aspects, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” appears quite similar to the storyline of “Superman.” Similar to how “Superman” omits its origin, “FF” immediately immerses you in the action without explaining its backstory. This method may not appeal to everyone, but it could potentially become a common trend in Hollywood, as it speeds up the narrative pace by skipping the initial setup.

In Gunn’s Superman, there’s a mention of Superman preventing a war right at the beginning, but unfortunately, we don’t get to witness this potentially thrilling event. Similarly, The Fantastic Four: First Steps forgoes many exciting cameo scenes, only hinting at their occurrence instead of showcasing them. Last week, Marvel revealed that John Malkovich’s role as Red Ghost was removed from the film, likely trimming approximately 25 minutes of the Fantastic Four fighting various villains to keep the runtime under two hours. This decision is unfortunate because I anticipated more action-packed FF superhero scenes beyond the Galactus fight (much like the Superman movie). Additionally, Paul Walter Hauser’s portrayal of Mole Man seems rather unremarkable and lackluster in comparison to what was expected.

What’s the storyline like? The film is based in an alternate reality on Earth during the 1960s, where the Fantastic Four are globally renowned figures. They’ve rescued countless individuals and even eliminated most of the world’s armies, except for Latveria, which remains a challenge! (By the way, nice touch with the reference to an alternate universe.)

Suddenly, there she appeared – the female Silver Surfer. She delivered the grim news that their fate was sealed, leaving me taken aback, as if it had materialized almost instantaneously. Admittedly, it seemed a bit jarring, considering it felt like about 20-25 minutes of context were trimmed from the beginning. Nevertheless, it certainly gave the film an immediate momentum boost.

The remainder of the film primarily revolves around the Fantastic Four confronting Galactus, attempting to devise a way to halt him, as well as the narrative’s endeavor to create coherence out of the events. Admittedly, it can seem convoluted, in my opinion. At times, it slows down (a girl sitting next to me even dozed off, but her father enjoyed it and claimed it was the best Marvel Cinematic Universe film in years), yet it manages to hold together overall. Regular viewers likely won’t detect the inconsistencies.

In the comics, it appears that the female Silver Surfer arrives on Earth months before Galactus to give an early warning. This is likely because if Galactus had appeared immediately, it would not have allowed for the development of the “baby Franklin” storyline, which seems to be a key part of the plot. Some might view this as a slight inconsistency or plot hole.

Concerning Galactus, let me clarify that this isn’t my personal interpretation of the character. In this portrayal, Galactus desires baby Franklin to succeed him as the new Cosmic Guardian (Top G). However, he exhibits significantly less power compared to the Galactus depicted in the comics. Notably, Sue Storm single-handedly subdues him. I can’t help but express my surprise (bruh) at this depiction, yet I still found it entertaining overall. The scene where Galactus stretches Reed Richards is quite amusing. The grand scale and spectacle are captivating, and the visual effects remain impressive as always.

I found the ending of the movie to be merely alright, not what I had anticipated. I was led to believe that the female Silver Surfer would perish, Galactus would destroy her world, and the Fantastic Four would flee to the 616 universe. Instead, I hoped for an ending akin to “Infinity War,” which would link seamlessly with the upcoming “Thunderbolts” post-credit scene. However, the conclusion here is vastly different, with no connection to that scene at all. Frankly, Marvel seems to have made several changes in this film, and these alterations could potentially be beneficial. The movie appears to be more self-contained, aside from a leaked post-credit scene that surfaced earlier.

I’ll also add that no one clapped at the end. They did for Superman (nyuk, nyuk, nyuk)!

The Verdict

Titled “The Fantastic Four: Initial Footsteps“, this film is one of the stronger Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) productions in recent times; however, it still has its flaws. Primarily, these issues stem from uneven editing, occasional tempo inconsistencies, and certain narrative decisions (or lack thereof) that seem to be residue from studio intervention or adjustments (which may not necessarily be a negative aspect). The visuals are impressive, the action sequences are solid, and it handles character development quite well. However, it also chooses to play it safe and leaves certain aspects unexplored. Overall, I enjoyed it; yet, I couldn’t help but feel that it could have been so much more. At least it left me eager for more, rather than leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. I recommend giving it a watch, especially for fans. I was content with my viewing experience. 8/10.

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2025-07-25 04:01