This is the third time the Fantastic Four have been on the big screen. If you count the 1994 version, then this would be the 4th time. Maybe the fourth time is the charm for Marvel. This iteration of the Fantastic Four perfectly blends the high-tech of the group with the retro look of the 60s. The movie pays tribute to the genius of Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, while also honoring the characters they created.
In what should be a common practice nowadays, The Fantastic Four: First Steps does not spend half of the movie giving the audience an origin story. Instead, they are already heroes on Earth-828, and through a clever montage on a television show, the audience is given the story of how they came to be. This gives us more time with the team and their lives. The montage not only helps to see the actions of the team but also introduces us to some of their villain gallery, like Moleman (Paul Walter Hauser), and mentions a few others.
As seen in the trailers, the Fantastic Four: Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), and Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), are faced with protecting the Earth from the upcoming destruction by Galactus (Ralph Ineson). This message was given to them by Galactus’s herald, Shalla-Bal AKA the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). The stakes are high for the team, and they must find a way to save the Earth before it is too late.
Faced with this situation, Reed and Sue are about to become parents. While Reed is trying to figure out a way to stop Galactus, he is also trying to be a new father. Reed runs a series of tests on Sue and the baby to see if they will be born normal or with superpowers. This research causes a rift between Reed and the rest of the family. We later learn how Reed overfixates on problems and that fixation clouds his thinking.
The overall theme of the movie is family. We hear this word spoken a few times in the trailer, and the Fantastic Four are known as Marvel’s First Family. The love between the characters is there, and it makes it feel like you have watched these characters for years. You care for the characters and are invested in them. This investment is rewarded by knowing that the four feel the same way for the audience and the world they live in. Sue makes a choice about her child, and as a parent, it feels like it’s a choice and reason that many parents will also make.
The pacing of the movie felt rushed at times. Things were cut from the movie, cough, John Malkovich, cough, and this could have led to those rushed moments. I also feel that there was more to Johnny’s story. His character seemed to want to do more or show that he was a bigger part of the team than how the other members saw him. There are probably moments between him and Shalla-Bal that were trimmed for time.
Overall, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a great step for Marvel’s First Family, but does have a few missteps. The cast is perfect, and I am glad we are going to see more of them in future Marvel Studios films. While the Thunderbolts scene was not expanded upon, we do get a mid-credit scene that helps set up what is to come. The second end credit scene felt like something we have seen done before in Blue Beetle.
Final Thoughts: Though not perfect, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a right step in portraying the first family on the big screen. The script feels choppy in some moments, and the story feels like it was rushed. The few action sequences are fantastic, and each cast member gets a moment to shine. The Fantastic Four: First Steps stands alone and ushers in the next stage of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Violence: There are not that many action sequences in the movie that are violent.
Kid-Friendly: The movie’s retro look might attract younger viewers. There is a good amount of humor that highlights the family’s dynamic that may be relatable to some kids. The banter between Ben and Johnny is amusing to see.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios’ “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” introduces Marvel’s First Family—Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as they face their most daunting challenge yet. Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.