The Fantastic Four have finally arrived in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the theatrical release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and the steps the movie takes to progress the Multiverse Saga are huge. The film takes place outside the Sacred Timeline: Earth 828 during the 1960s. The Fantastic Four have been on the silver screen before, but The Fantastic Four: First Steps brings the characters to life in a way Marvel has yet to do onscreen.
The film felt lively and refreshing. It was a stellar introduction to Marvel’s first family to the MCU — all while also being an easy gateway for all viewers. But as fun and fantastic as the movie was, a few improvements could have made it even better.
MORE: Don’t miss out on our review for The Fantastic Four: First Steps!
What Worked:
Susan Storm as the Heart of The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) is always thought of as the leader of the Fantastic Four, but The Fantastic Four: First Steps proved that Susan Storm (Vanessa Kirby) is the heart. The most obvious example of this is when she gave everything she had — literally — to force Galactus into the area for the teleportation bridge. She had an incredible amount of strength and willpower. It was impossible not to be impressed by her. Her willingness and ability to use her powers in the way she did speaks volumes about her love for Franklin — about the unparalleled power mothers have.
Beyond that, Sue is the one who convinces Fantastic Four villain Mole Man (Paul Walter Hauser) to help them save New York. Mole Man expresses his hesitance but helps because he trusts Sue. Her speech to the public was also telling of her influence and importance to society. It was moving to see how she appealed to everyone’s humanity and assured them all of her commitment to protection.
Reed Richards the Scientist Versus Reed Richards the Dad
Reed’s life and passion. is science. Besides his elasticity, science and his high IQ are what the public knows Reed for. He even uses that passion to teach and entertain the next generation with the Fantastic Science with Mr. Fantastic TV show.
As a scientist, Reed’s job is to find solutions. As a scientist who’s also a superhero, his job is to find solutions that ensure the public’s safety and well-being. But becoming a father makes that purpose less clear-cut. Fatherhood changes how he approaches life. Reed feels an endless need to figure out if Franklin has powers. He then has to convince Sue that he would never give Franklin up to Galactus despite it being the practical and logical choice. Eventually, Reed learns to accept that who Franklin is isn’t something he can solve. That conflict adds complexity to Reed and helps humanize his character.
Johnny Storm as More Than a One-Dimensional Character
Even as someone who loves Chris Evans as Johnny Storm, I can undoubtedly admit that Joseph Quinn’s Johnny Storm in The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a better take. Johnny’s more than this womanizer who’s there for comedic relief. He’s not the genius Reed is, but he’s still smart and determined. He wouldn’t have even been part of the space mission if he weren’t.
From the running girlfriend joke to learning her language, his connection with Shalla Bal (Julia Garner) shows all of his sides. Most importantly, his willingness to sacrifice himself to save his nephew proves his commitment to the superhero gig. It comes with fame and adoration, which can be enjoyable. But Johnny is a hero because he wants to help.
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The Beloved and Sometimes Complicated Nature of Family
The family vibes in The Fantastic Four: First Steps are undeniable. From breaking the news about Franklin during family dinner to figuring out how the car seat fits in the FantastiCar, those family moments are part of what makes the movie heartwarming. But it’s not simply about the love they have for each other, because family isn’t always easy. It can be complicated.
That’s why it was controversial for the team to not give up Franklin. That’s why it was crucial to see Sue and Reed having a tough, uncomfortable discussion about Franklin and Galactus. That’s why it was impactful for Sue to tell Johnny to kill Shalla Bal. Everyone’s family matters, not just the Fantastic Four’s. People are incredibly protective of their family, and familial love can make those black-and-white areas seem gray.
The retro-futuristic setting in The Fantastic Four: First Steps helps amplify the idealized society of Earth 828’s New York. So having those darker moments help add contrast, tension and realism.
The Retro-Futuristic Setting of Earth 828 in the 1960s
Visually, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is stunning. From the design of New York to the FantastiCar itself, the movie brilliantly captures the retro-futuristic aesthetic. The world feels nostalgically familiar, exhilaratingly new and desirably different at the same time. You’re truly transported to the 1960s on Earth 828.
But it’s also obvious that world and time are different from what we know in our reality and the reality of the Sacred Timeline in the MCU. The Fantastic Four are a beacon of hope in a starry-eyed world. So there are no issues when they tell the whole world to cooperate with building teleportation bridges and obeying an electricity curfew.
What Didn’t & Needed Some Work:
Ben Grimm’s Role
Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Ben Grimm was well done. But his role in The Fantastic Four: First Steps felt smaller than his teammates. Ben’s importance as a skilled and effective pilot is unquestionable. Without his talents, the Fantastic Four easily could have died in space. It wouldn’t have even been because of Galactus but rather the dangers involved with space travel. Beyond that, his role is limited. The movie simply needed more Ben to even things out.
The moments of Ben out and about on Yancy Street were great. They showed glimpses of his life and who he is. He had a good rapport with children, showing how he’s perceived well even by the youth. The moment when he stops by the synagogue before Galactus’s arrival was a nice touch that added to Ben’s background. The movie also teased a potential romantic connection with Rachel Rozman (Natasha Lyonne). But, because that wasn’t explored much, it felt somewhat incomplete.
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The Run Time of The Fantastic Four: First Steps
At just 1 hour, 55 minutes, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is one of the shorter Marvel movies. By the end, you can feel that it’s a shorter film. It works fine as is but could benefit from additional footage and more in-depth scenes. A little more time with Ben would’ve been appreciated. A deeper dive into Shalla Bal’s history would’ve been interesting. An additional scene or two about Galactus could’ve made the villain more menacing.
Reed Richards’s Teleportation Bridge Portals
Maybe this is a matter of suspension of disbelief, but the teleportation resolution in The Fantastic Four: First Steps doesn’t make sense. When Reed shows that he’s figured out teleportation, he uses an egg as an example. The egg travels from one device to the other. With the help and cooperation of the world, people would create larger versions to help teleport the Earth far enough away from Galactus. When Shalla Bal destroys all but one of the teleportation bridges, the plan changes into teleporting a ship-less Galactus far away.
What doesn’t make sense, though, is how the teleportation bridge could even transport anything. There’s only one end of the teleportation bridge, so how does it teleport matter elsewhere? Where’s the other side? Where would the one device teleport the matter without another bridge to complete the trip? Given the fictional universe, surely there’s a way that Reed could explain how teleportation would still be possible. But he doesn’t.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is now in theaters.
