The Fresh Spark Marvel Needed! How The Fantastic Four: First Steps Ignites the New Era of the MCU.
Disclaimer: I was invited to a press screening of this film and does have some spoilers for the film
Rating: 4/5
When I think back to the Marvel movies that have had a profound impact on my life there are four that come to mind, the first is Guardians of the Galaxy which kicked off my love of the MCU and introduced me to a world of characters that I would learn to grow and love, and also changed my music playlist for the better. The second is Thor Ragnarock as it was the first Marvel movie I went to go see in the cinemas and seeing the sheer spectacle of it all is something that 12 year old Jaya will never forget, the third is Captain America: The Winter Soldier which is one of my top five movies of all time and showed me that just because it’s a superhero movie it can tell compelling political dramas that stand the test of time. And finally the fourth Marvel movie that had a massive impact on my life is Fantastic Four (2005) as it was the first comic book movie that I ever watched, and it still holds a very fond place in my heart, even if it’s clouded by childhood nostalgia.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps has the characters you know and love from previous iterations but tells a unique story filled with heart and is a blazing start for Phase Six of the MCU (Image Credit: Marvel Studios)
So does The Fantastic Four: First Steps find its footing or is it simply another mindless cash grab? I am pleased to say that this film doesn’t just rise to the occasion, it soars! Everything from the cast, plot, setting and even the score makes this one of the best films Marvel has put out in the post endgame era!
What I loved about this film, similar to James Gunn’s Superman (2025) is that this is not an origin story, in First Steps the four are already established heroes, meaning we don’t need the same rinse, wash, and repeat that we’ve seen in previous iterations. This gives the writers and cast some breathing room to give us a Fantastic Four film where they can indeed be fantastic. Sorry, I’ll lighten up on the puns.
The main core cast absolutley light up every scene they are in. While Ioan Gruffudd will always be the first person I think of when someone says Reed Richards/Mr Fantastic Pedro Pascal has taken over the mantle beautifully and is the perfect addition to the MCU. Even though Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing does not have nearly enough scenes in my opinion, his charisma and interactions with other members of the team fits in perfectly proving that you can have a fully CG character that is filled with infectious personality. I especially loved his interactions with Johnny (more on Johnny later). But it is Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman that really is the heart of this film. I couldn’t help but tear up a little at the pivotal speech she gave in the middle of the film. This film was truly a commentary on motherhood and family intertwined within a superhero story, which is EXACTLY what Fantastic 4 needs. Because, at its core F4 has and always will be a family oriented story.
Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal and Ralph Ineson as Galactus proved to be formidable antagonists against our core team, and I appreciated the complexity and depth they gave Shalla-Bal, I would have loved to have a few more scenes with her and Sue but I am truly knit picking here. The sheer scale of Galactus was a very enjoyable spectacle on the big screen and it is well worth a trip to the movies, especially if you can see it in IMAX!
Now it’s time to talk about my favourite part of this film and that is Joseph Quinn’s portrayal of Johnny Storm/Human Torch. To say I was nervous about this portrayal is an understatement. As mentioned before the 2005 Fantastic 4 movie is one of my favourite comic book movies of all time and it is in part due to Chris Evans portrayal. So I couldn’t help but walk in with some pretty high expectations, would Quinn be able to not only embody Johnny’s character but also be able to seperate himself from the blueprint that Evans set up two decades ago? I am ecstatic to say that Quinn delivered in all the aspects I was wanting, and then some. Joseph Quinn truly BECAME the human torch, and I’d argue is the strongest male lead in this film, and that is saying something when you are up against the likes of Pascal and Moss-Bachrach but I stand by this claim. Quinn was able to perfectly balance cockiness we know and love from all previous iterations while also giving him some much needed depth. This Johnny is more than just a womaniser that can turn into flames, he is a multifaceted character that cares deeply about his family and he is willing to make the sacrifice when needed!
The decision to set this film on the backdrop of 60s New York on Earth-828 was a bold decision but one that I think the story truly needed. That way the creators were not bound by any established lore from previous MCU movies, meaning they had more flexibility to tell the story that they wanted. And it proves that once again similar to Thunderbolts* when Marvel focuses on smaller scale more intimate stories they are able to smash it out of the park every time!
There are certainly some pacing issues and maybe a little less action than I was hoping for, but that truly is me just trying to find faults in what is a very strong superhero movie, and one of the best Marvel has put out in the past five or so years. I am excited to see where this story and family goes next, and the role they will play in the wider MCU.
