Fantastic Four Review: No, It Isn’t the Best Marvel Movie of the Year

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The following review features spoilers.

Marvel is making one final effort to generate excitement before the release of Avengers: Doomsday, but it follows a series of notable failures. Captain America: Brave New World was so poorly received that it might have marked the end of Harrison Ford’s career. The Thunderbolts finale was impressive, yet its slow start led to a lackluster box office and another disappointing outing for the MCU. Ironheart has been nothing short of disastrous, even causing Kevin Feige embarrassment over its release. We’ve left behind the glory days of Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain America: Civil War, and Spider-Man: No Way Home. Since 2019, Disney Marvel has only enjoyed one success story outside of Deadpool and Wolverine, and they’re certainly not enjoying any triumphs today.

I must clarify a few points before we delve deeper into the topic. Frankly, t Doomsday struggled significantly with the character, as evidenced by his minimal role in the storyline.

First off, let me say that I appreciate some positive aspects of Fantastic Four. If you don’t mind, let me address them before moving on to other points. The movie focuses heavily on family dynamics and avoids any controversial or divisive themes. The character of The Thing consistently steals the show, making a spin-off featuring him alone could be intriguing. The robot is adorable, and Pedro Pascal does an okay job as Reed Richards, although his portrayal leans towards a melancholic, anxious man who uses magic disguised as science. Interestingly, the film takes a surprising pro-life stance, going so far as to show an unborn child in a very humanizing way on screen. This was not something I expected, even considering it during my initial viewing.

And that’s… getting us remarkably close to the end of my positives.

If you only see the first half of Fantastic Four, you might end up with the impression that I’m overly critical and find no merit in Disney’s productions. Initially, I thought it was an 8 out of 10 movie. However, the second half of Fantastic Four fails in a way that even Reed Richards, a character known for his scientific prowess, would struggle to explain or fix. This is more than just ordinary storytelling issues.

Let’s kick things off by making some statements that are generally accepted as true. The film Superman 2025 surpasses Fantastic Four in quality significantly. However, the extravagant compliments from certain early reviews (likely marketing) were misleading at best. In Superman, Clark Kent discovers that he’s been venerating the wrong parents all along. This forms the crux of the storyline. He’s actually the son of the Kents, not of Krypton. Whether you find this development appealing or not, it provides a narrative for Clark to evolve through. Similarly, Thunderbolts is a superior film to Fantastic Four. In Thunderbolts, both our main protagonist and antagonist grapple with processing pain in a psychological thriller finale that delves into their self-worth. On the other hand, the Fantastic Four remain unchanged throughout the movie. They start off exactly as they end – they learn nothing and undergo no transformation whatsoever. Instead, they are stereotypical characters who accompany you on a roller coaster ride.

In this alternate 1960s universe, known as the Fantastic Four’s world, it bears a striking resemblance to Tomorrowland. However, it’s a different planet altogether, and its peculiarities make it hard for us to connect emotionally, much like a world that seems perpetually confined within the bustling Times Square. In this twisted retro-futuristic reality, there are no apparent governments or significant powers other than the Fantastic Four, who act as Earth’s protectors without any interference from the U.S. military or geopolitical conflicts. If you have a supervillain to deal with, you call the Fantastic Four; if you have a leaky basement, they’re your go-to team. In essence, they are revered and hold unchallenged authority over Earth.

When Galactus threatens to devour Earth, it’s none other than the Fantastic Four who step up, bypassing any bureaucratic or agency entanglements. They assume control, dealing mainly with swarms of reporters as their main source of accountability. Jumping into their spacecraft and performing some scientific wizardry, they determine that Galactus bears a resemblance to both King Kong and Vigo from Ghostbusters II. This colossal being has decided to spare Earth if the Fantastic Four agree to hand over their child.

The remainder of the film revolves around their desperate attempts to halt that catastrophe. Reed Richards concocts a strategy, but it backfires significantly. Silver Surfer’s character makes the ultimate sacrifice. Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm seem busy with tasks, while Invisible Woman forcefully pushes Galactus to another part of the universe in an act that borders on god-like intervention. Yes, she perishes, but her child miraculously revives her while nestled on her chest. Hence, everything turns out fine. And no, Mr. Fantastic seldom employs his superpowers.

As a die-hard fan, I must admit that the Fantastic Four movie offers a thrilling, popcorn-munching experience reminiscent of a roller coaster ride. It stands independently from the Marvel Cinematic Universe with no real character development or growth to speak of. The plot moves forward, but there’s nothing groundbreaking or thought-provoking here.

What I can say is that it’s far from being woke or offensive; however, the humor might not hit the mark for everyone. In fact, none of the jokes seem particularly effective, even the ones based on Johnny Storm’s womanizing nature, a trait borrowed from the comics, though his actions in the film never reflect this characteristic.

Essentially, Fantastic Four is about a superhero family embodying maternal love, filled with vibrant colors and dramatic explosions. Unfortunately, the climactic battle against the villain falls flat. Frankly, even Luke Skywalker’s ending was more fulfilling than Galactus’s. The movie itself leaves much to be desired since it follows the typical structure of a story, yet I’m not convinced that it offers an exciting journey worth taking.

Review Score: 5/10

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2025-07-25 04:57