It’s hard to say if I would consider myself a true Fantastic Four fan. I have always been fond of the characters, especially the dynamic between Reed Richards and Sue Storm. Reed is constantly thinking about the worst-case scenario, and that has to be exhausting for someone with his level of intelligence. That is why I was skeptical when Pedro Pascal was cast as Reed. I liked him in The Mandalorian with his monotone delivery, and I was surprised by his comedic timing in the Nicolas Cage movie he did a few years ago. I tried watching The Last of Us, but never got into it. To be fair, I was not a fan of the game either, and I know how divisive the second one was for that fandom.
People act like Pascal is “everywhere,” but this happens in Hollywood all the time. When an actor is hot, studios want them in everything. It is just how the business works. An actor lands a few hits, puts people in seats, and suddenly they are in three movies and a TV show in the same year. Filming schedules are usually only four to six weeks, so it happens fast.
Marve, in particular, has a habit of starting productions before the script is fully locked. They fill in with reshoots later, which makes things messy. Fantastic Four: First Steps feels like it went through the same process. They had a general outline, maybe 80 percent of a script, and then rolled cameras. That is why the film opens with a montage covering the team’s first four years. From a story perspective, it actually works. Instead of doing another tired origin story, they skip it and jump straight in.
Looking Back at the Older Films
To be fair, the first two Fantastic Four movies were not completely terrible, but the casting was rough. Sue Storm, in particular, never worked for me. Jessica Alba was never a good fit, and even the blonde wig in the sequel felt silly. Sue Storm should be a confident, strong woman who commands respect. Think of Ellen Ripley in Alien. She has both physical and emotional strength, which is exactly what Sue needed. Alba looked good, sure, but she never captured that presence.
The 2015 reboot was another origin attempt. It was not awful, but it was not a good Fantastic Four story either. That is why I appreciated First Steps skipping all of that. It feels short because of how quickly the story moves, but it never drags.
The Silver Surfer Choice
Some fans were upset that the Silver Surfer was female. The truth is, she exists in the comics. On top of that, this movie is set in an alternate universe. It makes sense. Hollywood likely also wanted another strong female presence since Sue is surrounded by men. Personally, I think it worked.
It gave Johnny Storm something to do for once. In previous films, he was just hyperactive and sarcastic. Here, he actually mattered. That said, I wish the film had slowed down and focused on smaller villains first. The montage teased some, but the main story went straight into Silver Surfer and Galactus.
Marvel’s Bigger Problem
This movie highlights Marvel’s larger issue. They are sprinting toward Doomsday and Secret Wars without putting in the same groundwork that made the first decade of the MCU so strong. Early on, Marvel built great standalone films like Iron Man and Captain America, and then teased the bigger world. By the time the Avengers came together, audiences already cared.
Now Marvel is skipping steps. Doctor Strange suffered from this when everything set up in his first movie was tossed aside because Endgame forced the timeline to jump. First Steps feels like it may suffer the same fate.
The post-credit scene shows the Fantastic Four heading to the 616 universe, likely chasing Dr. Doom. It even hints at Franklin’s importance. Readers of the 2016 Secret Wars know how big Franklin is in that storyline. Marvel will probably use him instead of Molecule Man as the power source behind Doom.
My Take
Even with these flaws, I enjoyed the movie. Reed and Ben’s friendship felt genuine. Sue had strong moments. Pascal surprised me, though I still did not like the mustache. Reed has had one in the comics, but on screen, it looked awkward. Either give him a full beard or keep him clean-shaven.
Galactus, on the other hand, was perfect. He finally looked comic-accurate, and they kept his original backstory intact. I expect he will stay consistent across the multiverse, similar to America Chavez.
Overall, I give Fantastic Four: First Steps an 8 out of 10. It is fun, easy to watch on its own, and does not get weighed down by cameos or shoehorned characters. I am glad they did not try to force Dr. Doom in yet. When they finally bring him in, I hope Marvel does him right with all the elements that make Doom iconic: sorcery, intellect, technology, and his hunger for power.
What did you think of Fantastic Four: First Steps? Now that it is streaming on Disney+ and is soon to be released on DVD, let me know in the comments. I am curious to hear your thoughts.
