‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Movie Review: Cast Chemistry Drives This Smart, Exciting Return To Form For The MCU
Photo from Marvel Studios
From Joe Peltzer
As a millennial, the original 2005 Fantastic Four film holds a special place in my heart; it was bright, goofy, and introduced me to Marvel’s First Family long before the MCU was even a thing. So it's especially exciting to finally see Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben step into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with The Fantastic Four: First Steps. After years of anticipation and speculation, the film arrives with a confident, fast-paced outing that skips the usual origin beats (a growing trend in the genre), instead throwing us headfirst into a story with real stakes… namely, the looming threat to Earth-828. It’s scientific, it’s “comicbooky”, and somehow it all works better than anything that has come before with the characters. This version of the Fantastic Four feels like the one we’ve been waiting for: grounded in family and heart, big on spectacle (those effects!), and a reminder of why so many of us fell in love with Marvel movies in the first place.
The film follows the team already established in their powers, pulled into a high-stakes mission when a mysterious being (Silver Surfer aka Shalla-Bal, played by Julia Garner) arrives to warn of Earth 828’s impending demise at the hands of cosmic conqueror Galactus (Ralph Ineson). As the Fantastic Four race to find a solution, they must confront their own fears, loyalties, and the burden of being heroes in a world that may demand the ultimate sacrifice. Leading the charge is Pedro Pascal taking on the role of Reed Richards, the brilliant and endlessly curious leader whose intellect is matched only by his drive to protect those he loves. Vanessa Kirby is Sue Storm, the powerful center of the family. Joseph Quinn is the fiery and charming Johnny Storm while Ebon Moss-Bachrach brings humanity to Ben Grimm aka “The Thing.” The core’s perfect chemistry is effortless and bursting with personality, selling the film’s emotional stakes just as much as the “we gotta defeat the bad guy” spectacle, a sure hook for audiences to find themselves engaged from the get-go.
What really works in The Fantastic Four: First Steps is the way the story grounds itself in the core idea of family, with the arrival of young Franklin Richards serving as the emotional lynchpin that ties it all together. Rather than relying solely on overloading the script with characters or insane multiversal mayhem, the film explores how these characters relate to one another as a unit. Reed finds himself torn between his calculating mind, the unpredictability of fatherhood, and his commitment to protect the world, a tension that Pascal portrays with layered vulnerability and visible torture. Quinn injects the film with youthful bravado, but it’s his evolving role as a protector, particularly toward his sister, nephew, and the team as a whole, that adds surprising emotional depth. His banter with Moss-Bachrach’s Ben Grimm is hilarious and heartwarming, reinforcing just how far these characters have come together since the initial fateful incident and how fiercely loyal they are to one another. But it’s Kirby who steals the show. Beyond her physical power as Sue Storm, it’s her emotional presence presented through subtle expressions, powerful monologues, and the unwavering determination to hold her family and the world together that cements her as the film’s true anchor. As a longtime Kirby fan, I am thrilled for wider audiences to see her deliver everything that she has to offer here with poise and confidence.
Garner’s Shalla-Bal is a torn, complex, and peculiar figure who emerges not just as a formidable adversary, but as a crucial lens through which the larger story unfolds; her emotional conflict adds a refreshing ambiguity to the film’s moral landscape and reflection of the First Family’s conflict. Visually, she’s stunning with her sleek, otherworldly design being especially striking in action sequences, particularly those that pit her against Johnny in some of the film’s most exciting moments. And then there’s Ineson’s Galactus, the film’s towering central antagonist who looms large not just over this story, but potentially the entire MCU going forward (my prediction). Ineson’s deep, gravelly delivery gives Galactus a chilling gravitas, matched by the wildly detailed design of his ship (Transformers-esque) and suit. As he moves through a retro-futuristic New York City, the scale of his threat becomes undeniably real. And because this is happening on a different Earth, we’re not left feeling like we have to compare to what 616 has already seen and survived.
It’s not all positive, though. First Steps’ breakneck pace sometimes comes at the cost of deeper character development. Ben Grimm’s budding connection with a potential love interest, played by Natasha Lyonne, is far too fleeting, leaving their interactions feeling more like missed opportunities than meaningful moments. In contrast, his heartwarming banter with the city’s children does far more to reveal his character’s warmth and humanity. Paul Walter Hauser’s Harvey Elder (aka Mole Man) is, unfortunately, reduced to a cartoonish plot device whose goofy tone feels out of step with the film’s emotional drive. And while superhero films require a healthy dose of suspended disbelief, a pivotal global call-to-action where people around the world suddenly and flawlessly construct advanced devices feels overly convenient and rushed, stretching plausibility to the point of distraction. Plus there are some early editing errors when conversations are happening between characters that are nauseatingly obvious.
On a technical level, the film is a triumph of world-building, transporting audiences to a unique take on the 1960s that feels both familiar and distinctly new. The attention to detail is incredible with practical sets bursting off the screen with texture and depth, creating a tangible, lived-in universe. The costuming strikes a perfect balance between simplicity and character, subtly evoking the era while remaining functional. And then there’s Michael Giacchino’s score, an absolute powerhouse that doesn’t just accompany the film but elevates it at every turn. Sweeping, playful, and emotionally resonant, it’s an all-timer in the superhero genre. See you at the Oscars, indeed.
At the end of the day, The Fantastic Four: First Steps feels a bit like Marvel’s Captain Marvel, a film built to tell a foundational story and introduce characters who will clearly be major players moving forward. It succeeds not only in making you care about its heroes, but in crafting a story that feels self-contained while still hinting at larger consequences. It’s not entirely clear how the Fantastic Four will factor into Avengers: Doomsday, but a fun mid-credit scene teases their future involvement in a way that’s intriguing enough. What’s certain is this: First Steps is a joy from start to finish, a welcome return to form for Marvel, and a vibrant showcase of Matt Shakman’s deep understanding of what makes MCU characters tick. It’s heartfelt, action-packed, and above all, a true winner.
Rating: 4/5
The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters on Friday.
