The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s long-awaited Fantastic Four: First Steps is here—and while its dazzling Jetsons-meets-Kubrick aesthetic and a high-powered cast initially promise something bold and different, what we get instead is a familiar formula draped in retro style. This second reboot of the Fantastic Four, directed by WandaVision’s Matt Shakman, is visually distinct but narratively safe, ultimately delivering another mid-tier Marvel experience.
Set on Earth-828 in the swinging ’60s (with a healthy dose of sci-fi reimagination), the film skips the traditional origin story in favor of jumping straight into the action. Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) are already revered as celebrity saviors—until the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) descends with news of Earth’s impending doom at the hands of Galactus (Ralph Ineson), a world-consuming cosmic entity.
From there, the story careens into a familiar MCU trajectory: a sky-high threat looms, public sentiment wavers, a convoluted solution is hatched, and in the end, good triumphs without significant sacrifice. If this feels like déjà vu, it’s because it is. Despite being poised as Phase Six’s cornerstone, First Steps is weighed down by a clunky script that reduces monumental stakes to mere plot points.
Retro-Futurism Done Right
If there’s one arena where First Steps truly excels, it’s in its production design. Shakman’s vision—imagine 2001: A Space Odyssey remade by Marvel in 1965—brings Earth-828 to vivid life. Flying cars, rounded red kitchen cabinets, mod fashion, analog tech—it’s a feast of futurism filtered through nostalgia. Shot in part with 16mm film, this aesthetic choice isn’t just window dressing; it’s integral to the film’s charm.
The retro vibe lends the film a fresh identity, one desperately needed in an oversaturated superhero landscape. It’s fun, it’s funky, and it feels lived-in. Unfortunately, the script doesn’t match this visual inventiveness.
Performances: Chemistry Without Consequence
Pedro Pascal is a thoughtful, if slightly muted, Reed Richards. Vanessa Kirby brings elegance and quiet strength to Sue Storm. Together, they have a grounded chemistry, particularly in the tender moments involving their unborn child, Franklin. Joseph Quinn gives Johnny Storm a modern update, ditching the womanizer trope for something more earnest and introspective. Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Ben Grimm is emotionally resonant, but underused.
Julia Garner’s Silver Surfer is visually striking and emotionally conflicted, but her arc—like most in this film—resolves too easily. The film introduces tension, only to deflate it moments later. Ralph Ineson’s Galactus, one of Marvel’s most formidable antagonists, is sadly a letdown—more of a plot device than a genuine threat. That he’s vanquished so quickly makes the climax feel rushed and hollow.
A Film Without Friction
The greatest issue with First Steps lies in its lack of narrative stakes. The film repeatedly avoids hard choices. Galactus threatens Earth? Don’t worry—Reed will build a planetary teleportation system! The world turns on the Fantastic Four? Sue delivers a heartfelt speech, and all is forgiven. Sue dies? Franklin’s mysterious baby powers bring her back. Nothing sticks. Nothing hurts.
Where Infinity War dared to leave audiences stunned, First Steps takes no such risks. The dramatic beats are superficial. The characters face cosmic danger, but there’s no true emotional or moral complexity beneath the surface.
Highlights: Humor, Heart, and a Hilarious Car Seat Gag
Amid the formulaic plotting, the film has its moments. The Fantastic Four’s camaraderie feels genuine at times. Mole Man (Paul Walter Hauser) injects humor and heart. The ending gag involving the team struggling to install a baby car seat is a rare moment of earned levity, grounding these cosmic superheroes in relatable absurdity.
There’s also charm in baby Franklin reading On the Origin of Species and subtle jabs at the media’s fickleness. But these flashes of brilliance are scattered and fail to cohere into a compelling whole.
Family Is the Real Superpower—But It’s Not Enough
The film tries to make family its thematic anchor—Sue’s fierce maternal instincts, Johnny’s bond with his sister, Ben’s loyalty, Reed’s desperation to protect—but these ideas remain underdeveloped. It tells us family is their strength, but rarely shows us in meaningful, transformative ways. Compare this to the emotional depth of Logan or Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and the contrast is stark.
Verdict: A Stylish Misstep
Would I watch it again? No.
Should you see it in theaters? Only if you’re a die-hard MCU fan or love retro sci-fi. Otherwise, wait for Disney+.
Fantastic Four: First Steps is not a bad movie. It’s just not a particularly memorable one. It’s a polished product built on a wobbly foundation. There’s enough style and star power to entertain, but the emotional and narrative heft needed to make it truly fantastic is sorely lacking.
Marvel, it’s time to stop saving the world and start saving your stories.
Aesthetically ambitious and competently acted, but let down by a tepid script and a villain who deserved better. The Fantastic Four: First Steps takes a confident stride into the MCU, but it’s one that leaves little lasting impact.
CINEMA SPICE RATING: ★★½☆☆ (2.5/5)
