The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a study in retro idealism

Matt Shakman (Cut Bank, WandaVision) directs this reboot of the Fantastic Four franchise about four superheroes—Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), and Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn)—who must protect Earth from planet-eating Galactus (Ralph Ineson). (114 min.)

Glen: We’re well into the summer blockbuster season, and I have to say, I’m feeling some superhero overload. Even so, I enjoyed this new reboot of the superhero team that always flops at the box office. The film’s already broken the curse and more than recouped its $200 million cost after the opening weekend. It’s an amazing looking film, with retrofuture sets and costumes and a mid-century modern 1960s vibe. It’s also set on an Earth that’s post war and post conflict … except for planet-eating entities and supervillains like Doctor Doom. This film is all about family, and with Sue Storm carrying Reed Richards’ bun in her oven, a fantastic five is on the way. It’s actually sweet and upbeat.

Anna: This one was all about the style for me, and the message was sweet. This sort of atomic, futuristic retro world is total eye candy, and we got to spend a lot of time eating up the scenery. Helpfully, the film doesn’t assume its audience knows the premise of the Fantastic Four going in; I certainly didn’t. All I knew is that previous attempts at adding these characters to the list of big hitters have flopped. I didn’t know much about them, and I always thought of them as B-list superheroes, but it turns out all this team needed was a good cast and a message that resonates with audiences. We all have families, whether chosen or traditional, and this tight team of Sue and Reed, Sue’s brother Johnny, and Reed’s BFF Ben all have a deep commitment, and not just to each other but to the world. I’m also a bit on superhero burnout, but between a fairly tender storyline and some truly beautiful sets, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is gratifying enough to recommend to everyone.

Glen: I thought it was smart and fit perfectly into the film’s vibe when we get their backstory through a TV talk show called The Ted Gilbert Show, with an episode honoring their four-year anniversary of returning from a space mission as changed beings. Ted Gilbert (Mark Gatiss channeling Dick Cavett) shows clips of their mission, return, and their superhero adventures, so it’s a mini origin story tucked inside this larger story of Galactus and the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). Marvel is clearly planning a full return of the Fantastic Four. They’re scheduled to appear in Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027). The Marvel Universe continues to expand.

Anna: Filmmakers were able to snag a great cast here as well. The four team members gave it their all and played their characters with conviction. Ben is funny and a softie in a tough shell, Johnny is Peter Pan looking to grow up, Reed is tortured by what he perceives to be his mistakes, and Sue is the strong, maternal compass that keeps them grounded. If you’re going to sneak in one more blockbuster with the kids before school starts again, I recommend you consider this one—it’s a good-hearted film about family.

New Times Arts Editor Glen Starkey and freelancer Anna Starkey write Sun Screen. Comment at gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.

This article appears in Jul 31 – Aug 10, 2025.