Rating of
3/4
First Steps - Review
Matthew Brady - wrote on 08/05/25
Third time's the charm, right?
"The Fantastic Four: First Steps" is arguably the best Fantastic Four film, which isn't saying much to begin with. The highest compliment I can give is that I genuinely felt the suspense and dread of the world-ending threat. Usually, in Marvel movies, such threats are non-existent, but what sets this apart is its setting in an alternate world separate from the main MCU timeline. As a result, any world-ending threat feels genuinely threatening.
I also appreciated the overall aesthetic of the film. It features that 1960s Retrofuturism. It's refreshing for a Marvel movie to have vibrant colors and fully embrace its comic book roots, rather than downplay them with jokes implying they're silly or stupid, as if embarrassed by their source material.
All the cast members portray their characters well, especially the main four. They are perfectly cast, with strong writing supporting their roles as characters. The score was memorable, and the film emphasizes this theme, highlighting the significance of these iconic superheroes by making the music distinctive and character-driven.
However, I can tell that this movie was heavily edited, as judging from the marketing footage, much was cut. It does feel a bit choppy at times. Even the transition from the title card to the next scene feels abrupt.
Other than that, I can happily say we finally have a good Fantastic Four movie.
