The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) - Film Review

      The Fantastic Four: First Steps, 2025.

      Directed by Matt Shakman.

      Featuring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ralph Ineson, Julia Garner, Paul Walter Hauser, Natasha Lyonne, Sarah Niles, Mark Gatiss, Matthew Wood, Ada Scott, Maisie Shakman, Alex Hyde-White, Rebecca Staab, Michael Bailey Smith, Jay Underwood, and Mark Weinman.

      SYNOPSIS:

      Struggling to juggle their heroic responsibilities with their family ties, the Fantastic Four must protect Earth from a monstrous cosmic entity known as Galactus and his mysterious Herald, Silver Surfer.

      In a moment in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Reed Richards, aka Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), explicitly mentions that the audience isn't interested in his mathematical explanations; they want to see a spectacle. This line playfully acknowledges that Marvel's recent multiverse storylines have not resonated well, leading to a decline in dedicated viewers for both films and television shows, marked by sagas that once generated excitement. The engagement has diminished over time, punctuated by occasional decent releases amid a saturation of content.

      Some of these latter TV shows are almost optional, which reduces the need to keep up with the growing number of projects available either in theaters or on Disney+. Fortunately, Marvel has recently curtailed its output and seems to be focusing more on quality rather than quantity. They've also recognized that not every story needs an extensive origin tale, and in some instances, it may be better to skip that narration. It's fair to say that several of the last five years were spent on productions that will ultimately be forgettable in the expansive Marvel Cinematic Universe.

      While it shouldn't turn into a contentious debate among fans, this is more suited to iconic heroes like Superman, whose origin and character dynamics are well-known. It’s worth noting that various depictions of the Fantastic Four explore this origin, but bypassing it can serve as a fresh approach.

      To illustrate, during a visit to a character portrayed by Natasha Lyonne, Ben Grimm, also known as The Thing (played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach with CGI rock features), declares that he needed to see her before the impending conflict, leaving me wondering, “wait, who are you?” This exemplifies how the film feels rushed and overloaded, suggesting that “27 steps” might have been a more fitting title.

      The Fantastic Four: First Steps, similar to several recent projects, suffers from subpar visual effects, including unclear green screen backdrops, unsettling CGI infants (as both Marvel and DC seem intent on outdoing each other here), awkward elasticity effects on Mister Fantastic (which, while rarely distracting, still lack believability), and a towering, Titan-like antagonist who appears insubstantial and rigid, even while causing chaos in a retro-futuristic city reminiscent of the Jetsons.

      Despite Ralph Ineson providing a convincingly menacing voice, it's hard to overlook that Galactus' visual design appears silly. Oddly enough, when vehicles are thrown into him, causing fiery explosions, the effects are surprisingly effective. At this point, inconsistencies in Marvel's CGI are expected, requiring us to accept the highs along with the lows.

      Thankfully, the film doesn't linger too long in space, despite the characters being astronauts transformed by cosmic experiments. Instead, it predominantly takes place in an alternate 1960s setting enriched with futuristic elements, a realm where director Matt Shakman excels.

      The downside is that Shakman is working from a screenplay written by a crowded committee (Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan, and Ian Springer) that tries to incorporate an overwhelming amount, not just concerning the main superheroes, but also includes montages and brief insights into their crime-fighting history, along with comical villains like Paul Walter Hauser's entertaining Mole Man. Two team members, Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and the previously mentioned Ben Grimm, feel more like vehicles for humor than developed characters. However, it's refreshing that humor is mainly situational rather than incessant quips in moments of peril.

      Part of this shift can be attributed to the film’s genuine effort to focus on character development, particularly Reed Richards and Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), who are on the cusp of welcoming a child after numerous struggles, all while preparing to safeguard the world. They are uncertain whether their child will inherit any cosmic gifts, but Galactus, who preys on planets scouted by his accomplice, Shalla-Bal/Silver Surfer (Julia Garner, who delivers a strong performance through motion capture), will only spare Earth in exchange for the baby. Thus, the child is likely to be extraordinary in some way.

      Pedro Pascal, arguably one of Hollywood’s busiest actors, provides a measured yet moving performance, even amid green screens and CGI. As he portrays a superhero and an exceptionally talented doctor, he often displays a detached