“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” (2025)
What do you get when you cross “Three Men and a Baby,” “The Jetsons,” the MCU and a well-written female character? “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.”
If you’re a fan of any of those things, you will get some enjoyment out of this latest entry in the MCU.
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” adeptly inserted some fun back into the MCU while also building on the humanity that was brought out in one of this year’s other entries, “Thunderbolts*.”
It is by far the best “Fantastic Four” movie ever made, giving more nuance to these beloved comic book characters than I’ve seen before.
The decision to cast four of the most engaging actors working today in the titular roles plays a large part in that. Pedro Pascal, one of the most beloved actors of our time, toplines his third movie in a month and a half as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Joseph Quinn lights up the screen as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch, Ebon Moss-Bachrach gives a lot of his signature heart and humor to Ben Grimm/The Thing, and, last but not least at all, Vanessa Kirby gives everything she’s got to Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman.
A fifth person enters the film in the form of Reed and Sue’s baby, which leads to some fun familial interactions between these heroes. I told my husband on the way home that I would take this movie without all the superhero stuff. I loved this ensemble’s scenes together in their home, which is decked out with beautiful retro futuristic furniture, fixtures and gadgets.
Unfortunately, I feel like perhaps a little bit too much of this movie is given away in the trailers, but there are still a lot of fun details and moments to savor here.