Marvel Studios is not doing well. That’s a fact. Since Avengers: Endgame, the House of Ideas hasn’t delivered a truly great film — Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Thunderbolts* came close, but didn’t quite cross the finish line. Now, the new The Fantastic Four: First Steps, afraid of everything that’s happened in recent studio releases, plays it safe. It does the bare minimum, without any flavor, trying to appease fans with a story completely lacking in personality.
The story of The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Directed by Matt Shakman, of WandaVision fame, the feature takes place in an alternate universe. Not the one we’re used to. In this world, with a vibe like The Jetsons, everything has a vintage 1960s look despite the advanced technology.
This is where the Fantastic Four (Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach) live — and they are celebrated. People cheer for this group of heroes, who had their DNA altered after a not-so-successful space mission. With powers ranging from invisibility to becoming a stone creature, they protect Earth. Until the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) arrives unexpectedly to warn that Galactus (Ralph Ineson), the Devourer of Worlds, is coming.
That’s when the four heroes set out to stop the cosmic threat. In promotional materials, Marvel Studios claimed this would be its first true sci-fi film, and its most unique one yet. Nonsense. Under Shakman’s weak direction, everything here is carefully calculated to avoid taking any risks.
Bland, soulless, and forgettable
The Fantastic Four: First Steps, contrary to expectations, is a movie that sacrifices its personality for safety. Disney knows it wouldn’t be smart to take risks with what might be the studio’s last hope. Hiring an apathetic director like Shakman immediately shows their intent: a formulaic movie that follows the handbook line by line, never daring — unlike Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Marvel’s boldest film.
As a result, the movie never takes off. The plot follows a basic step-by-step formula, barely building to a climax. The best scene comes around the 40-minute mark, giving us a glimpse of Galactus’ power — with Ineson being the perfect casting choice. But after that, the film’s momentum slows and never recovers. Everything becomes flat, apathetic, anemic. It’s as if Marvel chose not to innovate at any narrative point, always taking the safest and dullest route.
Proof of this is the lack of chemistry between the actors. They are all talented, especially Kirby. However, there is no spark, mainly because the lack of personality affects each new hero. Sue Storm is reduced to being a mother; The Thing is underdeveloped and confined to a flat romantic subplot; Johnny Storm loses his charm and becomes just a dull “little brother”; and Reed Richards, the worst of the four, is a lifeless scientist who always chooses the worst possible option.
Is The Fantastic Four: First Steps any good?
With no direction, script, or cast personality, there’s not much left. Even the soundtrack is bad, with the Fantastic Four’s classic theme used endlessly. They run from Galactus? Theme music. Johnny cracks a joke? Theme music. Sue announces her pregnancy? Boom — theme music! Everything feels creatively bankrupt, like an algorithm calculated what would please some fans the most.
Sure, the visuals are exciting at first, but that only lasts for the first 20 minutes. After that, no amount of design can save a film afraid to be creative. Personality is absent, and the story ends like a tasteless meal. I’ll probably forget this movie by tomorrow — let alone by the next Avengers film next year. It feels like Marvel has forgotten how to make good cinema. Everything is predictable, everything is risk-free. The Fantastic Four deserved better, especially when the 2007 film still outshines this one. In nearly 20 years, we’ve unlearned a lot. And that’s deeply concerning.
