MOVIE REVIEW: THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS

 

Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch and the Thing face their most daunting challenge yet as they defend Earth from Galactus and Silver Surfer.

Director: Matt Shakman

Cast: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Julia Garner, Sarah Niles, Mark Gatiss, Natasha Lyonne, Paul Walter Hauser, Ralph Ineson

Release Date: July 24, 2025

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Rated PG-13 for action/violence and some language.

Runtime: 1h 55m

Review:

The Fantastic Four: First Steps retro futuristic aesthetic instantly gives Matt Shakman's film a distinctive look paired with strong chemistry from its core cast makes it easier to overlook some of the script's deficiencies.  Shakman decision to go with more of a period setting works wonders for the film especially as we are introduced to the titular team through a series of montages of their previous exploits.  It gives the film a fun energy from the start that it tries desperately to maintain throughout.  The action thrown on screen is fun with its more sci-fi leaning story opening up the action to space set sequences which work incredibly well such as the team’s first encounter with Galactus.  There are slivers of Kubrick's 2001 visually referenced here and there for good measure as we follow Marvel's first family.  Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Joseph Quinn are solid across the board with their familial connection and interactions coming off as sincere and naturalistic.  Vanessa Kirby's striking appearance and strong screen presence gives us the most fully realized version of Sue Storm as there is little question that she serves as the backbone of the family and film as whole.  She adds an impressive level of depth to the character that really shines through during a speech she delivers about halfway through the film.  Pedro Pascal is a bit more of a mixed bag because his sincerity fits the role well, but his usual everyman charm works against him here since we're supposed to believe he's one of the world's smartest people.  He proves more than capable of pulling off the emotional side of the role, but he just can't pull off the analytical side believably especially since his character is wrong numerous times throughout the film.  Thankfully, Pascal and Kirby work well together onscreen, which makes it easier to overlook him being miscast here.  Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Joseph Quinn are better suited to their roles, but the characters feel a bit short changed by the script as they're never really fleshed out and only given a few distinguishing characteristics.  Moss-Bachrach in particular seems ready and willing to add some real pathos to his character if given the chance.  Julia Garner and Ralph Ineson are both talented performers, but they're terribly underused as paper thin villains which never takes advantage of their skills.  Missteps like that keep The Fantastic Four: First Steps from being something truly special even though it will still rank as the best onscreen iteration of these characters outside of The Incredibles. 

B