FANTASTIC FOUR
7.5 / 10
Marvel’s First Family returns to the big screen in a big way, scoring $227 million globally in its first five days of release. Say that five times fast.
And people are still arguing about Pedro’s mustache?
They’re called Marvel’s First Family for a reason. The Fantastic Four were a cultural force in the ’60s—when the world was a little friendlier and a little gentler. This new film captures that retro-humanist vibe beautifully through Earth 828, a hazier, rosier version of the MCU timeline. The production design does yeoman’s work channeling Jack Kirby’s artistic vision and you can see it in all the details on-screen.
I have to admit, the Fantastic Four hold a special place in my heart. When I first started reading comics, my stepdad and his brother introduced me to the legendary John Byrne. His ’80s run on the comic—especially his reimagining of Invisible Girl into the powerful Invisible Woman—made a lasting impression on both me and comic audiences all over the world.
It always bugged me that no film had really done the Fantastic Four justice. Yes, I own the 2005 Tim Story version and enjoyed it more than I should—but mostly as a guilty pleasure.
This new take, from WandaVision’s Matt Shakman, comes much closer to the platonic ideal of what a Fantastic Four movie should be. The actors have real chemistry—you believe they’re a family, not just a team of super-powered strangers.
Pedro Pascal is everywhere, and I did worry about Pedro-fatigue going into this, but he nails Reed Richards—grounded, cerebral, and haunted.
Vanessa Kirby, my favorite scene-stealer in the Mission Impossible series, brings heart and gravitas to Sue Storm—as a mother and as one of Marvel’s most powerful heroes.
I do wish we saw more of Cousin Richie (aka The Thing), but what we get is great. Joseph Quinn’s Human Torch was a more uneven, but I appreciated the attempt to evolve the character beyond Human Hothead. Ralph Ineson, with one of the best voices in Hollywood, makes Galactus truly imposing. And Julia Garner’s Silver Surfer is a sight to behold—both literally and figuratively.
My biggest critique? We’re thrown into story in media res. And while I get the impulse to skip another origin story, the Fantastic Four don’t have the same cultural shorthand as Batman or Superman. A little more setup around their dynamic would’ve helped. That said, the standalone approach really works. It’s fun, focused, and refreshingly free from Marvel’s usual crossover clutter.
I’d absolutely recommend seeing it in IMAX, as I did at the Universal Studios AMC. A solid 7.5 out of 10.
And people are still arguing about Pedro’s mustache?
They’re called Marvel’s First Family for a reason. The Fantastic Four were a cultural force in the ’60s—when the world was a little friendlier and a little gentler. This new film captures that retro-humanist vibe beautifully through Earth 828, a hazier, rosier version of the MCU timeline. The production design does yeoman’s work channeling Jack Kirby’s artistic vision and you can see it in all the details on-screen.
I have to admit, the Fantastic Four hold a special place in my heart. When I first started reading comics, my stepdad and his brother introduced me to the legendary John Byrne. His ’80s run on the comic—especially his reimagining of Invisible Girl into the powerful Invisible Woman—made a lasting impression on both me and comic audiences all over the world.
It always bugged me that no film had really done the Fantastic Four justice. Yes, I own the 2005 Tim Story version and enjoyed it more than I should—but mostly as a guilty pleasure.
This new take, from WandaVision’s Matt Shakman, comes much closer to the platonic ideal of what a Fantastic Four movie should be. The actors have real chemistry—you believe they’re a family, not just a team of super-powered strangers.
Pedro Pascal is everywhere, and I did worry about Pedro-fatigue going into this, but he nails Reed Richards—grounded, cerebral, and haunted.
Vanessa Kirby, my favorite scene-stealer in the Mission Impossible series, brings heart and gravitas to Sue Storm—as a mother and as one of Marvel’s most powerful heroes.
I do wish we saw more of Cousin Richie (aka The Thing), but what we get is great. Joseph Quinn’s Human Torch was a more uneven, but I appreciated the attempt to evolve the character beyond Human Hothead. Ralph Ineson, with one of the best voices in Hollywood, makes Galactus truly imposing. And Julia Garner’s Silver Surfer is a sight to behold—both literally and figuratively.
My biggest critique? We’re thrown into story in media res. And while I get the impulse to skip another origin story, the Fantastic Four don’t have the same cultural shorthand as Batman or Superman. A little more setup around their dynamic would’ve helped. That said, the standalone approach really works. It’s fun, focused, and refreshingly free from Marvel’s usual crossover clutter.
I’d absolutely recommend seeing it in IMAX, as I did at the Universal Studios AMC. A solid 7.5 out of 10.