There’s a new superhero team in the film entertainment business who are based on Marvel comic books, and that’s the “The Fantastic Four.” We are introduced to the new team in the movie “The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Reed Richards is Pedro Pascal, the husband of Sue Storm, Vanessa Kirby. Ben Grimm, the orange rock creature, is played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach. Johnny Storm is Sue’s younger brother, who Joseph Quinn portrays. The significant element of this enjoyable film is the solid family-centered theme featuring a strong female character.
First Steps” is set on Earth-828, which is a tribute to the “Fantastic Four” co-creator Jack Kirby, who was born Aug. 28, 1917. Although in reality, it’s the 1964 retro-futuristic world. The superpowered astronauts fight against the alien named Galactus in New York City. He’s a giant iron-like cosmic creature who devours planets. They all work together using their unique skills to conquer Galactus, which is the theme of the movie’s 1-hour and 55-minute runtime.
Early on, we find out that Sue is pregnant with the couple’s first child, and they divulge that it’s a boy. Of course, this is a worry as well as a joy due to the fact that both have been exposed to cosmic rays during a space mission garnering them superhuman abilities, and what does this mean for their baby boy? They’ve also become celebrities who fight supervillains. Reed’s scientific inventions, of which he works diligently, have progressed technology for the world. Whereas Sue’s diplomacy with the Future Foundation organization has led to global demilitarization and peace. Yet again, another plus as the Future Foundation, an international non-governmental organization, was founded by Sue Storm, which has achieved worldwide demilitarization and peace through proactive diplomacy.
Another aspect I enjoyed in the film was the appearance of Silver Surfer, Shalla-Bal, portrayed by Julia Garner, and yes, she’s a woman. Although in the comic books, my teens read in the late 90’s the Silver Surfer was a man. Turns out Shalla-Bal is an alien from the utopian planet Zenn-La. She air-surfs to Earth on a surfboard-like structure and declares that the planet has been marked for destruction. Her alliances are unknown at times, which adds mystery to her character and the script. I thoroughly enjoyed her presence and performance.
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is one of my favorite movies this year. It offers outright fun entertainment, a stellar cast, a well-crafted script, and spot-on direction by Matt Shakman, who directed the Marvel TV series “Wanda Vision.” The film’s solid family-centered theme, featuring a strong female character in Sue Storm, sends a powerful message about the importance of family. This is a message I always champion and deeply appreciate. If you’re a fan of superhero films, this is a movie you don’t want to miss. “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is playing in theaters now.
Sarah Knight Adamson© July 28, 2025
Stay tuned to Sarah’s Hollywood 360 Radio Network review this Saturday evening.