I went into Fantastic Four: Steps just curious to see how this movie turned out. Not because I expected it to be bad, Matt Shakman has chops, but because the Fantastic Four have been adapted many times with various amounts of success. But this? This is easily their best outing yet.

And honestly, it might be one of the best-looking MCU films to date. It looks different, and it feels different.

What surprised me most was how much this movie stands completely on its own. Whether you’re deep into the MCU or totally new, you’ll walk away with the same experience. It doesn’t lean on cameos or multiverse gimmicks. It’s focused, grounded (well, as grounded as a story about space gods can be), and has heart.

At its core, this is a family movie. It balances superhero stakes with very human dynamics. There’s real emotion here. Not just quips and punching.

Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards? I didn’t expect to love him in this role as much as I did. The guy is everywhere right now, and I was a little worried he might feel overexposed. But nope, he nails it. He brings a calm intensity and a believable genius quality that really sells Reed as a leader. You can see the cold and calculated guy in there —the one I heard about from the comics, the one consumed by his work that he can neglect the people around him. There were moments in this movie where hints of that man were present.

And Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm is not just “the wife” or “the mom” or “the glue.” She’s a whole, complex character with agency and some edge. Her chemistry with Pascal? 🔥 Their scenes together are electric in that lived-in, in way that you believe instantly.

Joseph Quinn’s Johnny Storm is a departure from previous versions, and I loved it. He’s still the Human Torch, but there’s more brains behind the fire this time, less frat boy, more emotionally grounded. It works for me. The others to me felt like they were there due to nepotism more than actual skills.

And Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm gives us a Thing with heart and nuance. You feel the weight he carries—both emotionally and physically but it’s muted. He’s not the tortured man we might have seen but there’s an awkwardness and/or shyness to him that you can tell is due to his appearance.

Now let’s talk antagonists. Galactus is not some weird cloud or a cartoon villain. He was scarier than I thought he would be, terrifying almost. Ralph Ineson voices him, and that gravelly, commanding tone gives him a real cosmic dread. The movie doesn’t try to overly explain him either, which keeps him mysterious and powerful.

Also, the Silver Surfer (this time as a woman) has so much more depth than previous takes. She’s not just a silent observer or cosmic lackey. Julia Garner’s performance gives the Surfer emotional complexity and purpose. I loved every scene she was in and they gave her some serious action scenes that makes her a threat and not just a herald.

One thing that really stood out? The exposition. I loved the documentary style that introduced us to the team and th world they live in. It flowed naturally. And the score? It’s doing a lot of heavy lifting in the best way, elevating the emotion and tension.

Oh, and while Reed’s stretchy powers still aren’t as cool as Elastigirl’s, that actually works here. Reed relies more on his brain than his body, and the rest of the team does too. It’s a refreshing shift from the usual CGI fest where they punch first and ask questions later.

Fantastic Four: Steps is a movie I’ll 100% rewatch. It’s smart, stunning to look at, and emotionally resonant in a way I didn’t expect. The trailers didn’t give away half of what this movie delivers, and I’m glad.

It’s about time Marvel got the Fantastic Four right. And this was worth the wait.

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