‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Review: First Steps Towards a More Exciting Future

The Fantastic Four is commonly referred to as Marvel’s first family. Not only does that apply in the literal sense as the team is comprised of husband a wife duo Reed Richards and Sue Storm, her brother Johnny, and Reed’s best friend Ben Grimm, but also because of the dynamic they share together. Unlike other superhero team-ups like the Avengers or Guardians of the Galaxy, what bonds them together isn’t their superpowers or their some common mission, it’s their love for one another. That love is what’s first apparent in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. In between the typical world-saving heroics, the film explores the relationships and drama between these superpowered family members. Their universe feels vibrant and alive, and most importantly sparks a renewed interest in Marvel again. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is far from perfect, but it feels like Marvel Studios is taking its first steps towards a more exciting future.

Set in the alternate universe of Earth-828, the Fantastic Four have become superhero celebrities after cosmic radiation gave them all unique powers, which they have used to save New York City from various low level criminals and bring the countries of the world together through peaceful government policies and scientific innovation. And with the announcement that Reed and Sue are expecting their first child together, everything is perfect. But that peace doesn’t last for long when the arrival of the Silver Surfer from space brings the news that their entire planet has been marked for destruction by Galactus. The Fantastic Four have never faced a larger threat than Galactus, both literally and figuratively, and with a new addition to the family on the way, the stakes have never been higher.

What immediately sets The Fantastic Four: First Steps apart from its Marvel brethren is its futuristic ’60s aesthetic. Remember those old school infomercials that showcased the home of the future that looked like something out of The Jetsons? First Steps is that reality, and it looks absolutely gorgeous. The sleek flying cars, golden record recorders, Herbie the hilarious helper bot; it’s all new age technology with old school flair. It is what gives Earth-828 a different look and feel to the Earth-616 of the main MCU timeline. Before the arrival of the Silver Surfer and Galactus, this universe felt like it was living in its own fantasy dreamscape where the good guys always won and the bad guys always lost. The Fantastic Four were its heroes and they were beloved by all. They even had their own children’s cartoon show. Everything was pretty much black and white. But that kind of peacefulness rarely lasts.

First Steps biggest strength is in its family. Pedro Pascal stars as Reed Richards aka Mister Fantastic and he has the ability to stretch his body to incredible lengths in addition to being one of the smartest minds on the planet. Vanessa Kirby is Sue Storm who can turn invisible and create force fields. Her brother Johnny, played by Joseph Quinn, can engulf himself in flames and fly. And then there’s Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Ben Grimm, whose exposure to the cosmic radiation turned him into this massive rock creature with super strength. Their family dynamic is what sets them apart from your typical superhero team. Sure, they fight off any and all villains, but we also get to see them sit down together for Sunday dinner. Ben and Johnny are constantly teasing each other and getting on one another’s nerves. Sue and Reed have a baby on the way, which is scarier than any cosmic threat. They fight, argue, but most importantly love each other all the while trying to keep the world a safe place with their powers. Some of the best scenes of the film are when they’re all together just having conversations. The way they play off each other brings out how much of a family they are first and superheroes second. Don’t worry, there are some great action scenes too.

The introduction of Galactus and the Silver Surfer is quite imposing. Ralph Ineson’s booming voice is perfect for the character and his travels to Earth acts as a tense countdown to destruction. It’s Julia Garner’s Silver Surfer who leaves a more lasting impression, however. She literally surfs lava and space debris as she chases the Fantastic Four through space. One of the most memorable scenes of the film is a visually stunning sequence involving them zipping in and around a black hole. The film looses a bit of steam in its third act as Galactus finally reaches Earth, though. He isn’t as big as I would have liked him to be, and maybe that’s because it’s his ship that does most of the world destroying across the galaxies and not himself. Reed’s plan of dealing with him also isn’t the brightest, but the film does its best to still be entertaining while falling into familiar superhero territory. This is the 37th film of the MCU afterall, and the third in six months, and superhero fatigue is still very much a thing.

Despite a rocky third act, The Fantastic Four: First Steps does a good job introducing Marvel’s first family. As it takes place in an alternate universe, it’s refreshing to have a film stand on its own and not require dozens of hours of past films and series to understand what’s happening. And yet it still manages to make me excited for what’s to come in the future and how Marvel Studios will incorporate the Fantastic Four into the larger MCU. I want to see more of these characters and their story. First steps are always small ones, but they leave a lasting impression, and that’s exactly what The Fantastic Four: First Steps accomplishes.