Fantastic Four First Steps Review: Marvel's Overly Cerebral Reboot That Finds Its Life In the Final Act

RATING - ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 3/5*

Fantastic Four First Steps Review:

Out of all the previous attempts, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007) remains memorable to me, purely because of the mystique and presence of the Silver Surfer. He was physically invincible, yet mentally vulnerable, and that contrast worked. That film may not have aged well, but the Silver Surfer still lingers in memory. With Marvel's new reboot Fantastic Four First Steps, helmed by Matt Shakman, the studio clearly felt the pressure to deliver something fresh yet meaningful. Unfortunately, the burden shows. The film tries so hard to be emotional, intelligent, and narratively grounded, that it forgets one key ingredient for over 90 minutes—entertainment. The story is thoughtful, yes, but overburdened by heavy theoretical conversations and a very slow narrative pace. It walks, talks, and theorizes too much before it remembers to run, punch, or fly. And just when you’re about to give up, the climax crashes in like a tidal wave of energy—and saves the film.

Fantastic Four First Steps Story:

First Steps introduces us to the new Fantastic Four: Reed Richards, aka Mr. Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm aka Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Ben Grimm aka The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), and Johnny Storm aka Human Torch (Joseph Quinn). They’re established heroes by the time we meet them, functioning comfortably in the city, dealing with street-level issues, public goodwill, and personal challenges. But beneath this surface lies the emotional heart of the story: Reed and Sue are expecting a baby. This unborn child becomes central to the film’s conflict, choices, and, eventually, its emotional payoff. Enter Julia Garner’s Silver Surfer, who arrives like a breath of fresh air—except she barely stays long enough to impact the narrative in a meaningful way. She warns Earth of an impending doom in the form of Galactus (Ralph Ineson), the world-devourer. But instead of a fast-paced battle or rising panic, what follows is more strategy talk, lab scenes, and internal debates. The Four are faced with a tough choice: compromise something incredibly dear to them—or find a radical new way to escape the inevitable.

There’s genuine emotion tied to that dilemma—especially with the baby at the center—but the build-up is too slow and overly sentimental. You can’t help but think: where’s the thrill? Where’s the superhero stuff? Where are the explosions, chases, and cosmic clashes? The emotional arcs are present, yes, but they’re stretched too thin, making the film feel more like a family melodrama than a Marvel tentpole. Then comes the saving grace—the climax.

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The last 15-20 minutes of the film feel like they belong to an entirely different movie. Galactus arrives in full form, colossal and terrifying. His presence alone electrifies the screen. Silver Surfer unleashes a trick, and the F4 step up, finally showing the synergy and strength we came to see. There’s a spectacular sense of urgency, visuals that truly pop, and a pace that suddenly wakes you up from a sleepy first hour and a half. And yes, the post-credit scene—without giving it away—is a knockout. A surprising cameo injects new excitement into the MCU's future, leaving the audience buzzing on the way out. I went from nearly dozing off to gripping the edge of my seat, all within the film’s final stretch.

Fantastic Four First Steps Cast:

Pedro Pascal carries the emotional weight as Reed Richards with restraint and sincerity, though his performance often feels boxed in by the script. Vanessa Kirby shines brighter as Sue Storm—she’s fierce, sensitive, and gets most of the film’s important emotional beats. Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Joseph Quinn provide comic relief as Ben and Johnny, but they’re criminally underused in action. Their chemistry is good, but it needed a lot more screen time in combat. Julia Garner’s Silver Surfer, for all the hype, is underwhelming due to minimal screen time. The character feels more like a narrative device than a presence. Natasha Lyonne dazzles in her cameo-sized role—she’s quirky and stylish, but again, not fully utilized. Paul Walter Hauser is nearly invisible, and the rest of the supporting cast barely leaves an impression. On the other hand, Ralph Ineson’s Galactus is a show-stealer. His voice and sheer scale received cheers the moment he appeared, and he single-handedly elevates the final act into blockbuster territory.

From a technical standpoint, the film has been shot for IMAX but doesn’t quite leverage that promise. The visual effects are clean and competent but lack memorable moments. The cinematography is serviceable, not spectacular. The score fails to leave an impact, and the sound design doesn’t amplify the key moments the way Marvel scores usually do. Those whonhave seen Christopher Nolan's Interstellar will find the blackhole scene in F4 as a childish one for sure. The editing is the biggest issue—it makes a sub-two-hour movie feel like a two-and-a-half-hour drag. Had the first half been sharper, this film could’ve had a tighter grip on audience attention.

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Fantastic Four First Steps Movie Review:

Matt Shakman’s direction is sincere but safe. He opts for grounded storytelling and emotional layering instead of spectacle. That choice gives the film a unique texture, but it also robs it of excitement for too long. There are no bold visuals, no clever narrative twists—just a slow-burn family drama wrapped in superhero costumes. While I appreciate the attempt to focus on character, it needed more superheroism to balance the scale. In conclusion, Fantastic Four First Steps is a mixed affair. It’s not bad—but it’s not great either. It’s heartfelt but overly chatty, emotional but not exciting enough, until the finale swings in to rescue the narrative. Thanks to the final 20 minutes, the film crosses the finish line with some grace. It may not be the blockbuster Marvel was hoping for, but it’s far from a disaster. It’s a decent entertainer with one hell of a finish. I’m going with 3 out of 5 stars, with a generous half-star bonus for the finale alone.

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