If there’s any one word to describe The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the 37th Marvel Cinematic Universe film, it’s “genuine”.

The film from director Matt Shakman is clearly genuine with its portrayal of a superhero family group doing good and bettering the 60s world they’re in -Earth 828. They have to deal with an oncoming intergalactic threat in the form of Galactus and his herald, the Silver Surfer, while also contending with an oncoming fifth family member courtesy of the pregnant matriarch Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), equipped with invisibility and forcefield-generation that completely reflects her protectiveness and level-headed tendencies. Patriarch Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) prepares for outcomes as the smartest person on Earth with elastic skin and limb powers, though he gets tunnel vision and isn’t the best at conveying emotion.

Balancing that part out are best pal and family friend Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) who is literally made of granite and about as strong as the Incredible Hulk, and Sue’s young brother Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn). Both play as the fun-loving uncles with polar opposite personalities, but complement each other to a tee.

The whole film wouldn’t work without the genuine chemistry between all four leads, and suffice to say, all of them nailed it. From the husband-wife duo of Reed and Sue bantering through thick and thin (while sorting out cosmic nonsense), to Ben and Johnny ribbing on each other in the best of ways, you can’t help but see how far their relationship stay strong and their conversations relatable yet hilarious in spite of all odds, especially in the second half where their supporters turn on them in what could be an understandable compromise.

What’s also great about the show, apart from really steeping deep in its retro-futuristic look and getting very comfortable with its digs and sounds, is that it doesn’t come with the fabled MCU baggage -no homework, basically. Even last few months’ Thunderbolts* does require some good knowledge of Avengers and MCU stuff years prior, no matter how tiny. In Fantastic Four: First Steps, the backstory and family dynamic are laid out in the first 20 minutes, setting up the sci-fi odyssey and repelling of alien invaders plotline as grand and as elaborately comic book-ey as you would expect from a tribute film.

Outer Worlds

Speaking of aliens, props go to Julia Garner and Ralph Ineson for their portrayals of Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) and Galactus (Ralph Ineson), respectively. The former with her calm yet striking silver demeanour that leads on more than everyone else knows, and the latter with his imposing presence, low-octane voicework, and one-track mind of just filling up the intergalactic hunger plaguing the character.

Granted, it’s the most tried-and-true plot device but seeing it in action is a different story, one that is truly appreciated as past Fantastic Four films fail to deliver anything close to this scale. Plus, having comedy actor Paul Walter Hauser as Moleman is genius casting; his short-but-sweet appearances help add levity to the already-cornball adventure.

The MCU debut of Marvel’s first family comes in with a gradual supernova explosion of cosmic proportions. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a fun ride that feels good, has a great balance of drama and comedy, and really makes us believe a 60s retro-futuristic-styled comic series can appear in live-adaptation form without feeling forced or having some “modernization” jazz added to it like the past few Fantastic Four films from Fox.

Matt Shakman and his team made the smart decision to make this story take place on an alternate universe, fresh from much-needed research of prior MCU films and just adapt an existing comic book storyline, focusing on the character relationships and the new-member-of-the-family bit. Every one of the main actors got the screentime they deserve, and the visuals and music help accentuate the atmosphere and tone better than most comic book movies. Even the ones Marvel Studios and Disney made at times.

Most importantly, it’s a perfect love letter to the fantastical stylings made by artist and creator Jack Kirby who brought the Fantastic Four to comic book life alongside Stan Lee. The dream of seeing a Jack Kirby-realized live-action sci-fi contemporary hybrid world was only that: a dream. At least until this movie’s existence, which is indeed a sight for sore eyes.

Final Score: 80/100