Was Marvel’s The Fantastic Four First Steps a great date night film

 It’s the last Monday of the year, which is really hard to believe, and this is my last film review for 2025. This is my fourth year as a Music City Film Critics Association member, and it's still an honor to be a member, share twelve or more film reviews here on the blog, and submit my Oscar nominations ballot. That’s up next after my final review is done. Today, I’m sharing my thoughts on The Fantastic Four First Steps.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps- A Great Date Night Film?

Courtesy:  Walt Disney Studios

My thanks to Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures for the For Your Consideration screener link to watch The Fantastic Four: First Steps, so that I could share review coverage.

About The Fantastic Four: First Steps: Distributed by: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures /Directed by: Matt Shakman /Produced by: Kevin Feige /Run Time: 1 hour,55 mins./Genre: Action-Sci-Fi/Rated: PG for Rated PG-13 for action/violence and some language

Cast: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ralph Ineson, Julia Garner, Paul Walter Hauser, Natasha Lyonne, Sarah Niles.

Film Synopsis:

“Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' introduces Marvel’s First Family—Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ben Grimm/The Thing as they face their most daunting challenge yet as they defend the Earth from Galactus and Silver Surfer."

My Thoughts- No Spoilers:

I enjoy Sci-Fi films for the most part, especially if I get to enjoy them with my husband, since this tends to be his preferred genre, so we were really excited at the opportunity to watch this film for our recent date night. 

It’s been ten years since the last Fantastic Four film, which we both recalled as just “okay.” We really didn’t set the bar high for this latest storyline, and I’m glad we didn’t, because we would have been disappointed. 

One of the most glaring problems I found with the film is its lack of continuity with scenes and the pacing of the story. Perhaps this was part of the overall retro vibe, but I didn’t like it.

I really liked the retro robot H.E.R.B.I.E. and found him to be a scene stealer! 

Courtesy: Walt Disney Studios

I also enjoyed getting to know Earth’s “first family” and was glad they worked together to save Earth while not sacrificing their family. 

Did I find the villains, Galactus and Silver Surfer, scary or threatening? Not really. I felt their characters could have been fleshed out more to be more believable as a true Earth threat, instead of relying heavily on the family dynamic. This is a Marvel film after all. There should, at the very least, have been highly tense moments.  

The Takeaway: 

Courtesy: Walt Disney Studios

Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a fine movie to watch, even for a date night. You will be entertained for the most part during the overly long film, but you won’t be wowed. You can now stream The Fantastic Four First Steps on Disney+ or purchase it on Blu-Ray at your favorite retailer.

2025: That’s a Wrap!

Thank you for reading my film reviews and other blog posts this year. I appreciate you and wish you a happy and safe New Year's Eve and best wishes for 2026.

Please share in comments: Do you want to see The Fantastic Four First Steps?