Fantastic Four: First Steps – Is Marvel Back?

After two failed attempts in previous years and amidst Marvel’s downfall era, Fantastic Four: First Steps seemed to carry a heavy burden, but it looks like it fulfilled its duty successfully. It made $118 billion at the box office on its opening weekend, achieving the fourth-best debut of the year, and scored 87% from critics and 93% from the audience on Rotten Tomatoes. As someone who played with Fantastic Four Happy Meal toys twenty years ago and has witnessed the ups and downs of Marvel, count me in that 93%. The film gives a true sense that a step in the right direction has finally been taken.

What attracted me the most before watching the film was the cast chemistry. In some Marvel movies (like Thunderbolts), I’m unsure about the casting or the chosen characters. Should there even be a film around these characters? Is there real chemistry? I sometimes enter the theater with hesitation. Thunderbolts stood out with other elements and managed to affect me that way. Fantastic Four, however, managed to impress me even before I saw it. So I entered the theater not with hesitation, but with excitement. And unlike some others, I was very satisfied with the casting. For example, some people didn’t find Joseph Quinn fitting as Johnny. He may not seem like the obvious first choice, but I knew he’d give a strong performance and my opinion didn’t change after the movie. Both the character portrayals and the performances were solid. I’ll get into that in more detail below. Again, unlike some, I didn’t see major problems with the editing. People say too many scenes were cut and the conflict was resolved too quickly. Someone even wrote that it felt “fragmented.” I kept that in mind while watching. Yes, scenes may have been removed, but I don’t think it affected the pacing. A fast flow probably pleased today’s audiences, whose attention spans are getting shorter and shorter. I’ll touch below on what might have been lacking. What would a longer Fantastic Four: First Steps look like? Why not, maybe we’ll get an Extended Cut someday.

Plot

The screenwriter assumes we can’t handle a third Fantastic Four origin story (thank you), so the first half hour quickly introduces the characters and what had happened to them. Then, we meet our first threat: Silver Surfer. It’s enough to spark curiosity. The core conflict begins when Galactus sets his sights on Franklin. The exciting chase scene with Silver Surfer ramps up the tempo. The movie had already started strong, and this sequence crowns the first half. I watched the film in IMAX 3D. My favorite IMAX scene was this one. But to be honest, I didn’t have a Dune-level experience. The 3D didn’t help; it might’ve been better in 2D. Returning to the scene, it ends with Franklin’s birth, making it even more meaningful.

Once the team lands on Earth, we’re faced with an ethical dilemma: Would you sacrifice a family member to save humanity? I think basing the main conflict on an ethical dilemma was a great move. It’s more than the usual “bad guy wants to take over the world.” The idea of Galactus searching for someone to take his place to satisfy his hunger is not bad. Our villain doesn’t want to be evil, he’s doing this out of necessity, seeking someone to replace him. Even though the usual giant villain attacks the only city that exists in the World (New York!), this movie does stand out in other ways. The fractured relationship between the Four and the public, Reed and Sue’s struggle as parents, the tension between them, and the curiosity about Franklin’s powers bring fresh thematic layers.

In our second and final conflict, we learn that Silver Surfer also didn’t do this willingly, she’s a victim too. Just as Johnny is about to sacrifice himself, she does it instead. It’s a meaningful death, and the brief backstory adds depth. Sue, using all her power in the battle against Galactus, gives us a scare. Her return to life thanks to Franklin is a nice touch. After an emotional scene, the movie ends softly with Reed, Johnny, and Ben struggling to install Franklin’s car seat. Throughout the film, there are classic Marvel-style comedic scenes. But Fantastic Four balances action, drama, and humor well. It’s never too silly or too serious.

Characters

What I liked most about the film was the characters. Compared to other Marvel films, it has a rather minimal cast and doesn’t rely on cameos. Honestly, maybe a surprise Ioan Gruffudd cameo could’ve been nice, but a film that shines on its own doesn’t need that kind of support. A simple cast and deeply developed characters are always more effective. The more screen time they get, the stronger the film becomes.

The Four are not only shown in their conflict with the villain but also through their internal struggles and multi-layered personalities. Most importantly, they are portrayed as human first; facing relatable, empathetic issues, which strengthens the audience’s connection. Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby also mentioned in an interview that they focused on highlighting their characters’ humanity while preparing for the roles. The family dynamics are well portrayed, you believe they are a real family.

Let me start with Johnny, who shines the most and becomes more than just a comic relief side character. In previous films, Johnny was a major flirt. Here, he still flirts, but he’s also smart, thoughtful, even self-sacrificing. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for his family. He usually channels his impulsiveness for good, sacrificing himself multiple times for the team. He’s not “booksmart” like Reed, he has more of a practical intelligence. I liked his scenes with Sue; they portrayed the sibling dynamic well. Joseph Quinn’s performance helps. His humor and flirtatiousness feel natural, not annoying. His friendship with Ben and Reed is also not forgotten.

As for Reed, I think Pedro Pascal suits the role. Reed carries a lot: he’s a scientist, a leader, a husband, a father. People trust him and look up to him. We see that even more clearly when Galactus arrives. The public trusts the whole Fantastic Four, but Reed’s leadership carries extra weight. Pedro captures Reed’s anxiety well, and he feels convincing both as a scientist and a leader. His chemistry with Sue is excellent. Even during arguments, you understand his point of view and empathize with him. There was one scene with Franklin I really loved “I won’t study you anymore. You tell me who you are.” My only critique of Reed is his powers. He seemed more useful as a scientist and that’s how he stood out. His powers were a bit in the background.

I have no complaints about Ben. Like in previous films, he’s used as a comic relief side character at times but he absolutely has a soul. Maybe we could’ve seen more of the struggles he faces due to his appearance. If we’d seen more of his emotions, it would’ve been easier to empathize. Since he underwent a physical transformation, I’d like to see how he’s changed over time. Still, his scenes with kids and dialogues with Rachel were more than enough to make me like him.

And finally, Sue , who shares the heart of the film with Johnny. I saved her for last because she was a much more of a likable character compared to previous films. She’s definitely the strongest of the Four, both mentally and physically. Her solo defeat of Galactus was arguably the film’s most striking moment. Sue is by no means a stereotypical romantic partner. We can evaluate her separately from Reed. She has her own character, thoughts, and depth. And frankly, in 2025, it would be absurd if that weren’t the case. Like Reed, she carries a lot of responsibility, to the public and to Franklin, her baby. And Franklin is under threat from both the people and Galactus. I wouldn’t want to be in her shoes, it’s a tough situation. I also liked Vanessa Kirby in The Crown, such an elegant woman. As Sue, she keeps that elegance, but she’s far more charismatic, powerful, and independent.

I loved how Sue being a mother didn’t overshadow her personality, skills, or profession, she still does everything she used to do. Vanessa Kirby said in an interview that she was especially sensitive about portraying this properly and I truly appreciate that effort, because it really comes through. Sue is the same person she was before becoming a mother. Of course, she’s changed emotionally, now she has someone else to protect. But the same applies to Reed. They raise Franklin as a team, and their character developments are parallel. In a film that emphasizes teamwork, Sue’s role being equal to the others , especially as a woman, is valuable. Maybe I’m overanalyzing because there’s been a real shift in how female characters are portrayed lately. Still, representing them correctly is important so we don’t repeat past disasters. This shouldn’t be done just to tick a DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) box. What matters is getting the character right, period. I don’t want to tie everything to feminism. Especially in a film where the characters’ genders feel irrelevant. I wish I didn’t have to comment on it. But society’s expectations around motherhood and the way female characters have been portrayed so poorly and unrealistically in the past, it makes it impossible not to mention it.

A quick note on Silver Surfer. There were criticisms about her being a woman. I don’t think it matters whether the character is male or female. In fact, her being female worked better for the dynamic with Johnny. We didn’t see much of her backstory, maybe it could’ve been explored more. I think we’ll see her in future films, we should. I used to think she was super cool as a kid. Still do. Oh, and apparently her surfboard isn’t attached to her. 😊

Visual World & Technical Aspects

Another thing I was excited to talk about: the Earth-828 Universe. The film takes place in an alternate reality defined as “retro-future.” Although it’s set in 1960, it features flying cars, robots, and advanced technology , reminding me of The Jetsons. This unusual world clearly separates the movie from classic Marvel productions and creates its own unique atmosphere. The old-fashioned clothes, tech, and color palette are very aesthetic. Cinematically, this choice enhances the film’s style and atmosphere. Also, while the costumes from previous Fantastic Four movies were cool, I really liked the retro designs here.

The CGI was good, but could’ve been better. It’s normal to use a lot in a Marvel film , we should  be pushing the limits of imagination. The effects during the first Silver Surfer encounter were solid. Ben Grimm’s design, which was terribly bad in the old movies, was much better here. Some moments where he holds Franklin looked a bit off, though. Speaking of Franklin, I saw criticisms about the CGI/robot baby. It’s not an American Sniper or Renesmee situation, though. The baby was real in most scenes, but you could sometimes tell when it wasn’t. Maybe it could’ve been more seamless, I don’t know. It’s a sensitive area, you can only work with babies so much. I’m not a CGI expert either, so I don’t know how hard it is. But honestly, in a movie with flying cars and a flaming guy, don’t stress about it. My bigger issue is the villain design. I know it’s from the comics, but I’m tired of giant villains. A villain doesn’t have to be huge to feel “intimidating.” Ultron, for example, felt more threatening to me. So I hope for better villain designs in the future. That said, I liked the music. I was humming the Fantastic Four theme after I left the theater. FAN-TAS-TIC FOUUURR!!!

As I mentioned, the part that felt a little lacking might be the team's process of convincing the public after landing on Earth. One review pointed out how everything seemed to return to normal too quickly after Sue’s speech, and I agree. Reed’s explanation also felt vague. As long time public protectors, they owed the people a more detailed message. The confrontation with Galactus could’ve been more intense. I even thought, “Why don’t you tie up Galactus’s legs like in Empire Strikes Back?” And of course, as I mentioned earlier, Silver Surfer’s backstory, maybe we’ll see more of it in deleted scenes.

In Conclusion

It’s been a long time since I approached Marvel this sincerely, with this much hope. The film was not just fun but emotionally satisfying. The characters and their chemistry, the depth of the conflicts, the balance of action and humor, and the unique visual world, everything showed that this was a solid first step. Telling a story about a new universe through one team and a single conflict felt like the refreshing change we’ve long needed. I hope they don’t break this dynamic in future films.

Overall Score: 4.5/5

• Story: 4/5 – Goes beyond classic Marvel tropes.

• Performance: 5/5 – Excellent casting, especially Joseph Quinn and Vanessa Kirby.

• Cinematography: 4/5 – The retro-future aesthetic works well.

• Directing: 4/5 – Good balance of characters, pacing, and atmosphere.

• Editing: 4/5 – Despite cuts, the pacing is strong; easy to follow.

• Music: 5/5 – Fits the scenes, memorable.

• Themes/Messages: 4/5 – Family, teamwork, responsibility, ethical dilemmas.

• Emotional Impact: 4/5 – Especially strong connection with Johnny and Sue.

• Rewatch Value: 4/5 – Fast-paced and character-driven, worth a rewatch.

• Entertainment: 5/5 – Balanced humor and action, never boring.

• Creativity/Originality: 4/5 – Retro universe and fresh character takes.

Written By: Su Evci

nsuevci@gmail.com