'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' Review: A Bold Cosmic Debut For Marvel's First Family

Hype Malaysia

5 days ago

They have arrived. After years of teases, casting rumours, and multiverse detours, 'Fantastic Four: First Steps' brings Marvel's First Family into the MCU proper — with a surprising mix of retro flair, cosmic weirdness, and heartfelt family drama.
You know them: Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) take their first steps into a new iteration. One that leans harder into the family dynamic that has defined them for decades. One that, crucially, quietly introduces new threats along the way.
Of course, the Fantastic Four have taken a long, bumpy road to reach this moment. After the 2015 disaster, Fant4stic, Fox scrambled to retool the franchise, considering a kid-friendly reboot inspired by 'The Incredibles'. They were also working on a Doctor Doom solo film from Legion's Noah Hawley. But before those ideas could materialise, the Disney-Fox merger returned the rights to Marvel. Nearly a decade later, First Steps arrives not just as a reboot — but as a redemption arc.
So, how do these first steps fare? Are they solid? Or still wiggly-wobbly?
'I herald his beginning.'
Set in an alternate reality, far removed from MCU mainstays like the Avengers or the Snap, The Fantastic Four: First Steps doesn't dwell on Infinity Stones or multiversal hangovers. Instead, much like the recent Superman, the film plunges us into a brand-new world — one that's unapologetically stylised.
Picture this: retro-futuristic Jetsons vibes, flying cars, a chrome-drenched Manhattan skyline, and a generous helping of mid-century charm soaked in Jack Kirby energy. Clearly, the space race shaped this version of Earth. Retro brand references and vintage vehicles dot the landscape — even the MetLife building gets a cheeky Pan Am-style makeover.
From the very beginning, it's clear how much love went into portraying Marvel's First Family — both in-universe and behind the scenes. A high-energy montage shows the Fantastic Four in action, battling classic villains who've never made it to the big screen: Giganto! Red Ghost! Mole Man! It's a greatest hits parade for longtime fans and a clear signal that First Steps embraces the team's weird, pulpy roots.
In many ways, it recalls The Incredibles — especially how that film opens with nostalgic heroics. The tone here feels similar, and that's a very good thing. The opening montage celebrates the Fantastic Four not as outcasts, but as beloved icons in their prime.
These aren't rookies still figuring things out. This team already works like a well-oiled machine. Their rapport, rhythm, and trust come through in every interaction. They've clearly been through battles and triumphs together.
And yes, it's just plain fun to see The Thing play with kids on the sidewalk — handing out high-fives and lifting cars — instead of being reduced to a tragic, brooding monster.
Ben's presence feels more like an old-school uncle — calm, grounded, perceptive. He picks up on tension and gives the kind of advice only a big brother could offer. Ebon Moss-Bachrach brings charm to the role with a performance and voice that would make Aunt Petunia proud.
Joseph Quinn's Johnny blazes onto the screen with hyperactive flair. Sure, he's still a hothead and full of himself. But like Ben, he exudes 'fun uncle' energy — the kind who roasts you at dinner but still wins everyone over with charm.
Meanwhile, Reed and Sue's relationship anchors this version of the team. Vanessa Kirby and Pedro Pascal bring a strong, parental energy that genuinely changes everything. Sue isn't just the heart of the team — she's the compass. Brilliant, composed, protective, and already carrying the weight of the world before the baby even arrives. Notably, we also see her rise into a leadership role as the face of the Future Foundation.
Reed, on the other hand, remains the brilliant but distracted mind — often lost in calculations or tinkering with gadgets. He ropes HERBIE, their robot companion, into tasks involving the baby, much to Sue's irritation. Their dynamic is warm but laced with the tension of impending parenthood — subtle, grounded, and deeply human beneath the cosmic chaos.
Naturally, the family dynamic runs through every part of the film — not just in dramatic set pieces, but through dinners, cooking banter, and hushed lab conversations. These people care about each other. That connection matters.
'I herald your end.'
However, that jolly feeling of the first act is soon torn apart when a visitor descends upon Earth. Our journey shifts tone, becoming more grave — the brightness of discovery and family now overshadowed by the looming spectre of annihilation.
The Silver Surfer (Julia Garner), radiant in chrome, arrives in Times Square — not to attack, but to warn. Her ghostly presence delivers a dire message: Galactus is coming. The Devourer of Worlds is en route, and this beautiful, hopeful planet is doomed.
Yet the looming threat of Galactus doesn't break the team. These heroes don't just defend — they explore. And so, they push forward. They devise a plan. They aim to meet Galactus head-on. Not with force, but with reason. With empathy, boldness, and science. They try to negotiate. Anything to stop Earth from being consumed.
But then, what Galactus demands in return… is too much.
The film refuses to offer easy answers. This is a classic trolley problem, delivered on a cosmic scale. The choices weigh heavily. What is the price of saving Earth? What — or who — do you sacrifice? It's this moral weight that elevates First Steps. The characters become more than superheroes. They become people grappling with the unthinkable.
Thunderbolts explored similar emotional terrain — difficult choices, grey morality — and First Steps follows suit. We like that. We like it when Marvel movies trust us with the hard stuff. When they know spectacle alone isn't enough — it's the soul that sticks.
Director Matt Shakman clearly understands this. He's no MCU newbie — having directed all nine episodes of WandaVision. That series was celebrated for its stylistic ambition and emotional depth. A heartwarming, and ultimately tragic tale about grief, love, and identity. It too was about family — albeit a fabricated one — but a superhero domestic drama nonetheless.
That same sensibility extends to 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps', where Shakman once again balances emotional nuance with genre spectacle. Only this time, the family isn't imaginary — and the world is watching.
He understands that this family of four has a lot riding on their shoulders. Cosmic threats, moral quandaries, the sheer weight of expectation — all loom large. Yet Shakman's direction leans into what keeps them together. He gives space for quiet moments amidst the chaos, building tension constantly.
There's a standout sequence in the second act that reminds us — albeit not quite as strongly — of A Quiet Place. It's tense, perilous, and emotionally charged. Everyone, especially Vanessa and Pedro, fires on all cylinders, bringing nuance to a nail-biting moment in the sci-fi backdrop. It's terrific.
Each act of First Steps carries a defining line that encapsulates its emotional shift:
Act 1: 'The world is about to change.' — signalling wonder and excitement.
Act 2: 'We will protect you.' — the moment when exploration becomes responsibility.
Act 3: 'I don't know.' — a rare, vulnerable confession from Reed, showing that even geniuses can be lost.
These lines are not just spoken — they reflect the deeper theme: that heroism isn't about having all the answers. It's about what you do when there aren't any.
'I herald… Galactus'
The film's main villain is utilised to great effect. And oh, how far we've come from the cloud version of Galactus. In First Steps, the Devourer of Worlds is rendered with the mythic weight fans have long craved. Towering, ancient, and eerily composed — he's not a force of nature. He is nature. Intelligent. Terrifying. His presence isn't just a plot device. It's an existential reckoning.
And thank the cosmos — he has a face.
Visually, Galactus is awe-inspiring. The film delays his full reveal, instead building tension with gravitational shifts, celestial warnings, and haunting stillness. When he finally emerges, it's operatic. A living mural stretched across space. Every shot feels loaded with dread and beauty.
Ralph Ineson's voice? Perfect. Gravelly, commanding, ancient — his baritone carries the weight of countless consumed worlds.
Speaking of visual effects — they absolutely cooked with this. From planetary destruction to dimension-hopping madness, every set piece feels pulled from a sci-fi artist's sketchpad. The inspirations are clear: Interstellar, Star Wars, and, of course, classic Jack Kirby cosmic chaos.
And while some of it may echo familiar territory, they execute it with style. It blends awe with abstraction — the kind of film you want to pause just to admire every frame. Galactus alone? IMAX-worthy.
If we had one small gripe? It's with Shalla Ball. Her arc, teased and developed in the background, is resolved too quickly. A subplot that deserved more impact gets swept aside a little too easily.
Seriously, we don't have many complaints—other than the fact that we want more. This film feels like the start of something vast, cosmic, and emotionally rich. And while it does stand on its own, you can sense that this is just the first chapter. Some threads are deliberately left dangling, relationships just at their start, and a universe of possibilities waiting beyond the stars. It's not a flaw, really—just a testament to how much this story deserves to be expanded. And that's all.
So, is this the 'Fantastic Four' film we've been waiting for? Absolutely. It's bright. Quirky. And unabashedly sci-fi, which is what the core essence of the team has been for years. The film leans into the team's pulpy, cosmic roots with confidence, embracing time travel, alternate dimensions, and existential threats. It doesn't lose sight of the human heart at its core.
As of now, we're excited to see what comes next for the First Family in 'Avengers: Doomsday'.
This isn't just about powers—it's about family. We sure think Vin Diesel would be giggling in his Charger from afar.
'The Fantastic Four is currently having its 'First Steps' in cinemas. Say that again?