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. 

Review

The Plot

Phase 6 of the MCU kicks off with the introduction of The Fantastic Four into the MCU. As yet another adaptation of these comic book heroes, fans are rightfully reserved in their expectations for the new film. The Fantastic Four: First Steps takes an entirely new approach to the superheroes, leaning heavily into its 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic roots. Right from the start, we are shown that we are on Earth-828, so that the retro-futuristic world doesn’t confuse the audience, as it stands mostly alone from the broader MCU, based on the story and world-building. The big villain is none other than Galactus and his herald, the Silver Surfer.

Overall, Galactus comes off as far less of a serious threat compared to much of what the MCU has done recently. At first blush, that seems like a negative for the film, but in my opinion, sometimes we simply need villains who are threatening but easy to beat. If everyone is a Thanos-level villain, suddenly we no longer care about the stakes because they always seem to win. So, from a plot standpoint, the film is middle-of-the-road, safe, and generic. We have seen it before,e and if you have read any of the comics or seen any of the movies, you more or less know where things are going.

The Cast

Where I think the film shines the most is the ensemble cast. Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby) headline the team as the power couple who is about to have a son. He will play a central role in the plot, though again going back to the plot, its a bit troupy. But back to the ensemble cast. Reed and Sue come off as a very relatable couple with real married couple problems, both as public figures and as new parents. The struggle between Richards smarts, and protecting his family is a unique dynamic to explore, from an ethical standpoint.

Rounding out the team are Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach). Johnny doesn’t have the same screen presence as past incarnations of the character, and I think that’s partly due to actor Joseph Quinn’s acting. Still, his interactions with his sister are heartwarming, and his genuine joy for his nephew is evident. Ben’s hard-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside, all-around sweet-guy persona was a cherry on top to round out the team.

Final Thoughts

Superhero films tend to burn out their audience members. This is the third MCU film of the year, and several more are scheduled to release over the next two years. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a solid entry into Phase 6, kicking things off. However, as far as the genre is concerned, it falls in the middle and ultimately becomes somewhat forgettable. Debuting on the heels of Superman was unfortunate timing, or at least a calculated risk that may not pay off. At the very least, Marvel has done the bare minimum to keep the MCU afloat for Phase 6. Let’s just hope they can continue to ratchet things up and build off this in the upcoming big ensemble films.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is in theaters Friday, July 25th. Be on the lookout for 2 post-credit scenes, the first being the important one. You can skip the second. Also debuting ahead of the film, James Cameron’s latest Avatar: Fire and Ash will unveil a visual teaser for the new movie, showcasing the visual spectacles and hinting at some of the heartbreak expected in the third installment.

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