MOVIE REVIEW – We caught Marvel’s latest cinematic outing today, and it didn’t take long to realize that this Fantastic Four reboot isn’t about to revolutionize the world of superhero films. Despite Matt Shakman’s retro-futuristic vision, a top-shelf cast, and Michael Giacchino’s energetic score, what we get is a thoroughly competent, but never truly dazzling, Marvel effort. Sure, there are standout moments—Vanessa Kirby’s take on Sue Storm easily steals the spotlight—but with muddled storytelling, shallow character arcs, and a tendency to sidestep the big moral questions, this new iteration lands squarely in the “partial success” column.

“We will protect you,” Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards tells a hungry press corps as the Fantastic Four return from a botched cosmic mission. On the surface, he’s talking about the looming threat of Galactus, but it’s hard not to hear it as a metaphor for the Marvel Cinematic Universe itself, teetering on the brink of a new kind of Judgment Day—just like every Marvel fan in the theater feels: it’s now or never.

Trapped by Marvel Expectations

After the underwhelming responses to Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts, Fantastic Four: First Steps hit theaters with the weight of the world on its shoulders. The film kicks off with unexpected confidence: Earth-828’s alternate reality feels instantly lived-in, off to the side of Marvel’s all-important “Sacred Timeline.” Instead of taking time to breathe, the film sprints through its origin story in a breezy montage, then presents the team’s greatest hits from their first four years in a snappy highlight reel—more spectacle than substance.

Shakman (of WandaVision fame) crafts a colorful, stylish Marvel world—think Mad Men’s ‘60s cool blended with The Jetsons’ techno-utopian optimism. Once the setting is established, Reed Richards is hit with a curveball not even his genius saw coming: Sue Storm announces she’s pregnant. For fans in the know, the mention of Franklin Richards is a clear signal that things are about to get a whole lot more complicated for Marvel’s first family.

A Cosmic Threat Looms Large

Predictably, it’s not all family dinners and baby showers for our heroes: Julia Garner’s Silver Surfer, Shalla-Bal, swoops in to warn of Galactus (voiced by Ralph Ineson) on his way to devour the planet. Thankfully, Galactus isn’t just another cloud of CGI nonsense this time—Ineson’s gravelly delivery and presence give the villain some real menace, even if he doesn’t get much dialogue. The stakes are sky-high: if the Fantastic Four can’t deliver, Earth is next on the menu. Pascal is a terrific Reed Richards, channeling the right mix of intellect and anxiety at the thought of impending fatherhood. Moss-Bachrach’s Thing is warm and relatable, while Joseph Quinn brings charm to Johnny Storm, though he can’t quite match Chris Evans’ swagger from the Fox era.

Sue Storm Takes Her Place at the Top

Vanessa Kirby is the film’s biggest surprise: Sue Storm isn’t just the calm voice of reason but emerges as a true leader—brilliant strategist, global influencer, and force of nature. Pregnancy only amplifies her strength, and Kirby’s performance makes it clear Sue Storm is ready for a starring role in the MCU going forward. The team is soon faced with an impossible choice after a disastrous negotiation with Galactus, suddenly responsible for more than just themselves. Unfortunately, when the moral stakes are highest, the film gets cold feet—Reed would rather tinker in his lab than step up as a real leader, leaving the narrative to stall out just when we need a jolt of heroism. It’s all running, hiding, and buying time at the very moment we should see a new leader for the Avengers emerge.

Personal Drama vs. Missed Opportunities

The movie truly comes alive in its smaller, human moments—like Reed’s awkward struggle with his driver’s license—but when it pivots back to world-saving stakes, the tension just doesn’t stick. With this being the 37th MCU film, few viewers can muster real excitement for yet another global apocalypse, even if the lack of heavy-handed Marvel crossovers will be a breath of fresh air for franchise-weary fans. Galactus, at least, finally feels threatening, but Shalla-Bal ends up a flat, forgettable plot device, lost in the film’s final act without a clear purpose.

Marvel by the Numbers: Flash, Nostalgia, but No Breakthrough

Step back and what you see is a perfectly serviceable, but never extraordinary, Marvel adventure. The final act is overly streamlined, the plot wraps up with little surprise, and the ending leaves you wanting more. What keeps it afloat is the chemistry between Kirby and Pascal, Giacchino’s rousing soundtrack, and Shakman and Farahani’s lovingly realized New York—a tribute to Jack Kirby’s original vision. Is it fantastic? Only in fits and starts. For Marvel in 2025, delivering a film that’s simply “good enough” is, for better or worse, a kind of victory.

-Gergely Herpai “BadSector”-